Blood Products Medical Surgical Nursing

BLOOD PRODUCTS AND ADMINISTRATION
• 3 responsibilities for blood:
o Transport
§ Blood carries O2 and CO2 to the lungs to be expelled and wasted out
§ Carries nutrients from the GI tract to cells and tissues
o Regulates
§ Helps regulate hormones from the endocrine glands to cells and tissues
§ Helps regulate body temp, acid base balance and fluids and electrolytes
o Protects
§ From invasion of pathogens and other foreign substances
§ Keeps homeostasis of blood coagulation

Purpose of Blood Transfusions
• Improve O2 transport (PRBC's)
• Volume expansion (whole blood, plasma, albumin)
• Provision of proteins (FFP, albumin)
• Provision of coagulation factors (FFP)
• Provision of platelets (platelet concentrate)

Types of Blood Components:
RBC's ---
• Indicated for anemia or acute blood loss
• Prepared from whole blood
• Usually supplied in 250-350 mL unit bags
• Infusion time is between 2-4 hrs
o Infusion has to be stopped and taken down after 4 hrs whether it was all infused or not
• Each unit increases the Hgb by 1 g/dL and Hct by 2-3%
• Leukocyte reduced: wash off WBC's from donor
o Helps decrease nonhemolytic fevers or mild reaction a pt might have
o Helps reduce transmission of viruses
• Leukocyte irradiated: seen for immunocompromised pts
o Prevents graft vs. host disease
§ Donors WBC's aack causing harm to pt
WBC's ---
• Rarely used
o Treatment with a specific blood component is prescribed
• Used to resolve hypovolemic shock resulting from hemorrhage
• Contains RBC's, plasma, and plasma proteins
• Usually 500 mL