Question

What are the electrolyte issues in administering multiple units of banked blood?

Answer 1

Multiple units of blood products causes many problems along with electrolyte imbalance such as hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia,

Potassium in stored blood increases due to lack of ATP production. This initial increased level of potassium in stored blood can cause post transfusion hyperkalemia.

Calcium level is significantly decreased with multiple blood transfusion due to added citrate preservative.

Hypomagnesemia also important electrolyte imbalance associated with multiple blood transfusion it is also occures secondary to citrate toxicity.