Word parts
What it means
The infusion of whole blood or a blood product such as packed red blood cellred blud selA blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues; also called an erythrocyte.Full entry , plateletPLAYT-litA tiny cell fragment in the blood that sticks together at a wound to help form a clot.Full entry or plasma. It replaces blood lost through bleeding or treats very low blood counts. The donor blood must match the client's blood type, and a transfusion reaction can happen if the body reacts against the donor cells.
For the nurse
Two licensed staff check the client's identity and the blood product at the bedside. Start within 30 minutes of collecting the unit from the blood bank, use only 0.9% sodium chloride in the line, and stay with the client for the first 15 minutes. If fever, chills, back pain, itching or shortness of breath appear, stop the transfusion, keep the IV open with saline and call the provider.
In a chart
"1 unit PRBCs started at 1445; vital signs stable at 15 minutes, no signs of reaction."
At a glance
| Spanish | transfusión de sangre |
|---|---|
| Also written | blood transfusions, transfusion, transfusions, transfuse, transfused |
Related terms
hemoglobin
The iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and the blood test that measures it.
anemia
A lower than normal number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
IV
Intravenous: into a vein, or the tube placed in a vein to give fluids and drugs.
red blood cell
A blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues; also called an erythrocyte.