Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO)
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- TACO presents during transfusion or within 12 hours of completion - acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema superimposed on the transfusion context.
- Dyspnoea - acute onset or worsening, often first symptom
- Hypertension - cardinal discriminating feature from TRALI
- Tachycardia and tachypnoea
- Bibasal crackles - pulmonary oedema flooding the alveoli
- Raised JVP and peripheral oedema - elevated venous backpressure from volume overload
- Reduced SpO2 - alveolar flooding impairs gas exchange
- Risk factors: elderly, pre-existing heart failure, renal disease
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