Blood Transfusion in Practice

Question 1

A patient with blood group O can do which of the following:

1. can receive group A red cells safely
2. can receive group A fresh frozen plasma safely
3. can receive group A platelets safely
4. can have a group A child

Answer 1

1 - No

2 - Yes

3 - Yes

4 - Yes

Question 2

A patient with blood group A can do which of the following:

1. can receive group O red cells safely
2. can receive group O fresh frozen plasma safely
3. can receive group O platelets safely

Answer 2

1 - Yes

2 - No

3 - No

Question 3

What do you do in the following situation?

29 year old para 2+0, 10 minutes post-delivery mother loses consciousness

P126 BP50/0

Answer 3

1 - Identify source of blood loss

2 - Give crystalloids & O neg blood

3 - Take her to theatre

4 - Activate massive haemorrhage protocol (2222)

Question 4

If still loosing blood after transfusing 6 units, what other fluids should be given to the patient?

Answer 4

FFP + Platelets

Question 5

What blood tests are used to monitor coagulation?

Answer 5

Prothrombin time (PT)

Activate Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT)

Fibrinogen (when PT and APTT are abnormal)

FBC

Question 6

In someone who has lost a lot of blood, what other factors might need corrected?

Answer 6

1 - pH

2 - Calcium

3 - Temperature

Question 7

Does someone who is 14 weeks pregnant need a blood sample taken?

Answer 7

Yes - they need their ‘booking bloods’ taken

Question 8

What drug is administered to prevent haemolytic disease of the newborn?

Answer 8

Anti-D at 28 weeks

Question 9

Apart from being given prophylactically to prevent HDN, when else should anti-D be given?

Answer 9

Following delivery of RhD positive baby