Blood Component Transfusion Flashcards
7 cards from real CRNI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Blood Component Transfusion flashcards as text
A patient develops back pain, hemoglobinuria, and hypotension shortly after beginning a red cell transfusion. Which action takes highest priority?
Answer: Stop the transfusion and maintain IV access with normal saline
These signs indicate an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction; the transfusion must be stopped immediately and IV access maintained with normal saline while notifying the blood bank and physician.
Which of the following cryoprecipitate indications is considered most appropriate?
Answer: Replacement of factor VIII in hemophilia A when recombinant factor is unavailable
Cryoprecipitate is rich in factor VIII, fibrinogen, vWF, and factor XIII, making it appropriate for hemophilia A when recombinant or plasma-derived factor VIII is unavailable.
Transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) is most commonly associated with transfusion of which blood product?
Answer: Fresh frozen plasma from multiparous female donors
TRALI is most associated with plasma-containing products from multiparous donors who have developed HLA or HNA antibodies that react with recipient leukocytes.
A patient with a platelet count of 48,000/µL is scheduled for a lumbar puncture. The physician orders prophylactic platelet transfusion. What is the generally accepted threshold for this procedure?
Answer: < 50,000/µL
A platelet count of at least 50,000/µL is the generally accepted threshold before invasive procedures such as lumbar puncture to minimize bleeding risk.
During blood component administration, which solution is the ONLY acceptable co-infusion with blood products through the same IV line?
Answer: 0.9% Normal saline
Only 0.9% normal saline is compatible with blood products; dextrose causes red cell hemolysis and calcium-containing solutions like LR can cause clotting.
A nurse notes that a unit of packed red blood cells has visible clumping and a dark, discolored appearance. What is the correct action?
Answer: Return the unit to the blood bank and do not administer
Visual abnormalities such as clumping or abnormal discoloration indicate potential bacterial contamination or hemolysis; the unit must be returned to the blood bank and not administered.
A patient with chronic renal failure requires a blood transfusion. Which pre-transfusion concern is most critical related to stored PRBCs?
Answer: Risk of hyperkalemia from lysed red cells in older blood
Stored PRBCs release potassium as red cells lyse over storage time, posing a significant hyperkalemia risk to patients with renal failure who cannot excrete excess potassium.