Blood Product Administration

Question 1

what should blood be infused with?

Answer 1

ONLY normal saline EVER

Question 2

how long are blood consents good for?

Answer 2

1 year

Question 3

when is a transfusion reaction most likely to occur?

Answer 3

in the first 15 minutes - first 50 mL of blood

Question 4

what vital is most important when monitoring for a transfusion reaction?

Answer 4

temperature

Question 5

s/s of transfusion reactions

Answer 5

chills, SOB, hives, itching, back pain, “just don’t feel right/good”

Question 6

if the patients temperature increases, what should you do?

Answer 6

take the blood down - start a KVO, continue monitoring

Question 7

how long should it take for 1 unit of PRBCs to be infused?

Answer 7

2-4 hours - no longer than 4

Question 8

what is the max that blood can hang? why?

Answer 8

4 hours - risk of bacterial contamination too great after 4 hours

Question 9

in what situation would a blood warmer be used? why?

Answer 9

if a pt requires a rapid transfusion through a central line - rapid transfusion of cold blood causes dysrhythmias

Question 10

what electrolyte imbalance could occur from blood transfusions?

Answer 10

hyperkalemia

Question 11

about how much is in 1 unit of PRBCs?

Answer 11

250mLs, exact amount can’t be guaranteed

Question 12

what kind of blood can type O recieve?

Answer 12

O blood

Question 13

what blood type is considered the universal donor?

Answer 13

type O

Question 14

Who can type A people give blood to?

Answer 14

A and AB

Question 15

who can type B people give blood to?

Answer 15

B and AB

Question 16

can a positive person receive negative blood?

Answer 16

YES

Question 17

can a negative person receive positive blood?

Answer 17

NO

Question 18

reasons why someone would get PRBCs

Answer 18

severe anemia, low hemoglobin & hematocrit, severe blood loss

Question 19

why would someone get a platelet transfusion

Answer 19

because they have low platelets. (below 10,000 typically)

Question 20

s/s of low platelets

Answer 20

bruising, long clotting time, bleeding, petechiae, hematuria

Question 21

do platelets have to be cross matched

Answer 21

NO - sometimes they can have a reaction tho

Question 22

what should you do for a patient who has had a transfusion reaction to platelets in the past but they still need platelets?

Answer 22

premedicate with diphenhydramine and acetaminophen

Question 23

how long should it take for 1 unit of platelets to be transfused?

Answer 23

15-30

Question 24

why would someone get FFP

Answer 24

to replace volume & clotting factors

Question 25

how fast should FFP be infused?

Answer 25

30-60 minutes - clotting factors will become inactive if it takes too long

Question 26

how much is in a unit of FFP

Answer 26

200 mLs

Question 27

is compatibility required for FFP transfusions

Answer 27

yes

Question 28

what do you do if a transfusion reaction occurs?

Answer 28

stop it, run a new line of just saline, monitor closely, may give antihistamines, give everything to the blood bank as well as a blood and urine sample

Question 29

what is an autologous transfusion

Answer 29

collecting the patient’s own blood & infusing it if needed
(usually before a scheduled invasive surgery)