Why does transfusion-related acute lung injury require immediate breathing support?

Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a serious complication of blood transfusion that requires immediate respiratory support because it causes severe pulmonary edema, a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs and severely impairs breathing.1

When a patient experiences this level of respiratory distress, they are often unable to breathe effectively on their own. In such cases, mechanical ventilators are necessary to perform the work of breathing by delivering oxygen directly to the lungs and maintaining positive air pressure to prevent the collapse of the alveoli, the small air sacs responsible for gas exchange. Without this immediate intervention, the condition can be life-threatening.21