Page 5 - Clinical Connections - Summer 2024

Transfusion medicine

BLOOD DONOR CAT SAVED BY OWN
DONATION

Karen Humm, Associate Professor in Transfusion Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care,
Charlotte Russo, Head Transfusion Medicine RVN
cat, whose donations had previously
helped numerous RVC patients,
A helped to save his own life when he
was treated with his own plasma, from blood
he had donated years before.
Leo, a gorgeous 12-year-old tabby Maine
Coon, had been noticed to be sleeping more
than usual and not eating as well as usual
by his owner. This led to an appointment at
his usual vet practice and then a referral to
RVC Small Animal Referrals. It was a place
Leo and his owner knew well from his blood
donations, but it was a new experience to
come as a patient.
He was assessed and the Emergency
Referrals team found fluid in Leo’s chest
surrounding his lungs. This was impairing Ella presented with congestive heart failure
Leo’s ability to breathe effectively so the
team immediately drained the fluid.
A quick analysis of the fluid showed
it was pus and so Leo was placed in an
oxygen kennel and started on intravenous Leo having an ultrasound
antibiotics. He was transferred into the ICU
under the care of the Critical Care team, enough to produce new red cells and had Leo’s contributions to patient treatment
drains were placed into his chest allowing had some blood loss during surgery and Leo joined the RVC Blood Donor Programme
regular flushing and draining of his chest frequent blood sampling to monitor his in 2014, along with his brothers Bertie and
cavity. progression. This meant he was struggling Dicky. They donated blood 37 times, helping
to deliver enough oxygen to his tissues and at least 74 cats. Leo was always such a
Leo in the oxygen kennel the team were worried this was hampering gentle giant when coming in to donate with
his recovery. Consequently, Leo was placed his brothers, taking everything in his stride.
in the oxygen kennel again. He joined at a time when we couldn’t store
Meanwhile, the transfusion team got to feline blood, so he and his owner Peter were
work finding Leo the perfect blood donor essentially on call. Leo frequently travelled in
match for the red blood cells he required. to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals at
A cat called Bertie, who was owned by short notice to help save one of our patients.
a former RVC student, was found to be In late 2015 we developed a blood
compatible with Leo and donated blood for collection system for cats so that we could
him. store feline blood making it accessible at all
Leo was in hospital for three weeks and times of the day or night. This meant that
spent most of that time in the Intensive Care Leo could come in at a more convenient
A CT scan was the performed, which Unit. However, it was a truly multidisciplinary time to donate.
identified abscesses in his lungs, meaning case, with multiple specialist teams working The CT scanner, the oxygen kennel and
surgery was indicated. During surgery Leo together to help Leo. These included the the freezer where the plasma was stored
needed a plasma transfusion. Diagnostic Imaging team, the Anaesthesia were all funded by the Animal Care Trust,
Plasma can be stored frozen for up to and Analgesia Service, the Soft Tissue the RVC’s registered charity.
five years, as luck would have it – as there Surgery team, the Emergency and Critical
is nothing more compatible than your own Care teams and the Transfusion Medicine
blood products – there was still a unit of Service.
Leo’s plasma in the hospital. Everyone was so happy to see Leo start to
return to health and for him to be able to go
Complications after surgery home. His owner reported that he was soon
Leo had quite a complicated recovery back to his normal happy self, although his For small animal referrals, please call:
and his sepsis became life-threatening. beautiful fur took a while to grow back! 01707 666399
He became anaemic as he was not well Email:
qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk

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