Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Conclusion
PRBCs are a valuable resource and are life-saving in many medical situations . However , their administration has the potential to cause transfusion reactions that can have a serious negative impact on a patient ' s recovery .
Risks can be reduced by RVNs through careful PRBC storage , aseptic handling and by performing blood typing and cross-matching on patients prior to transfusion . RVNs with an awareness of the clinical signs of a transfusion reaction , and an understanding of risk-elevating factors such as breed type or disease status , will be able to respond more rapidly in the event of an emergency , improving the overall prognosis of their patient .
Guidelines surrounding the storage and administration of blood products are constantly being updated and RVNs involved in transfusion medicine should make a conscious effort to keep up to date with new research , and be prepared to change practice protocols if they feel it is necessary to protect their patients .
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Reflective professional development notes . To access hyperlinks to the references , scan the QR code on page 3 .
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