A nurse is educating a patient about blood transfusion alternatives.
Which alternative to blood transfusion may be considered for patients with symptomatic anemia and ongoing bleeding?
Whole blood.
Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)
Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Platelets.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Whole blood.
Rationale: Whole blood contains all blood components, including red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and clotting factors.
It is used for patients with symptomatic anemia and ongoing bleeding, as it can address both the anemia and provide clotting factors to assist in hemostasis.
Choice B rationale:
Packed red blood cells (PRBCs)
Rationale: Packed red blood cells are primarily used to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity in patients with anemia or significant blood loss.
While they can address the anemia component of the patient's condition, they do not provide clotting factors.
Therefore, they may not be the best choice for patients with ongoing bleeding.
Choice C rationale:
Fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
Rationale: Fresh frozen plasma is rich in clotting factors and is used to treat bleeding disorders or clotting factor deficiencies.
It can be beneficial for patients with bleeding issues but does not address the anemia component of the patient's condition.
Choice D rationale:
Platelets.
Rationale: Platelets are responsible for clot formation and are primarily used to treat thrombocytopenia or clotting disorders.
They do not address the anemia component of the patient's condition and are not typically considered an alternative to blood transfusion for anemic patients with ongoing bleeding.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is characterized by acute respiratory distress and is usually not associated with abdominal symptoms.
TRALI is more common in patients receiving plasma-containing blood products.
Choice B rationale:
Transfusion-associated circulatory overload (TACO) occurs when a patient receives a volume of blood or blood products that exceeds their circulatory system's capacity.
Symptoms include dyspnea, orthopnea, tachypnea, and crackles on lung auscultation, which match the symptoms described in the question.
This condition is more likely when blood products are transfused too rapidly or in excessive volume.
Choice C rationale:
Allergic reactions to blood transfusions typically present with symptoms like itching, hives, and flushing, rather than the respiratory symptoms and crackles on lung auscultation described in the question.
Choice D rationale:
Febrile nonhemolytic reactions are characterized by fever and chills and do not typically manifest as dyspnea, orthopnea, tachypnea, or crackles on lung auscultation.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Lactated Ringer's solution is a volume expander, not a therapy for improving oxygen-carrying capacity.
It can increase blood volume but does not address the underlying cause of anemia or hypoxia.
Choice B rationale:
Hemostatic agents like protamine sulfate are used to reverse the anticoagulant effects of heparin.
They are not indicated for improving oxygen-carrying capacity in anemic patients.
Choice C rationale:
Oxygen therapy delivered through a nasal cannula or mask is indeed a therapy to enhance oxygen-carrying capacity.
It provides supplemental oxygen to improve oxygen saturation in the blood, which can alleviate hypoxia in anemic patients.
Choice D rationale:
Erythropoietin injections can stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
This therapy can increase the patient's hemoglobin levels and improve oxygen-carrying capacity, making it a suitable recommendation for a patient with hypoxia due to anemia.
For , choices A, C, and D are correct as they are examples of volume expanders that can increase blood volume and circulation without adding blood cells.
For , choice C is correct as hemostatic agents like vitamin K or tranexamic acid can promote clotting and stop bleeding in a patient with a bleeding disorder.
For , choice D is correct as erythropoietin injections can stimulate the production of red blood cells and help alleviate hypoxia in a patient with anemia.
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