Question

The nurse is caring for a client who received a transfusion of packed red blood cells 6 hours ago. The client is beginning to develop nausea, vomiting, chills, shortness of breath, and hypotension. The nurse suspects the client is having which type of blood transfusion reaction?

a.) Febrile reaction

b.) Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction

c.) Delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction

d.) Transfusion-associated circulatory overload

Answer 1

ANSWER :

OPTION 'B' ACUTE HEMOLYTIC TRANSFUSION REACTION IS THE CORRECT ANSWER.

REASON :

In this type of reaction patient may experience hypotension, nausea, vomiting, dyspnoea, rigors or chills, hemoglobinuria, hyperbilirubenemia and anemia. This usually starts within first 15 minutes ;upto 24 hours following transfusion.

Other options are wrong

Reason :

In delayed hemolytic reaction signs and symptoms include weakness, unexplained fall in post transfusion hemoglobin, elevated serum bilirubin.

Signs and symptoms of circulatory overload reaction are dyspnoea, orthopnea, cyanosis, hypoxemia, tachycardia, hypotension, pulmonary or pedal edema and elevated intra venous pressure.

In febrile reaction patient may experience cold sensation, rigors, nausea or vomiting with or without temperature greater than one degree Celsius above baseline.