C.10. The patient's blood loss continued, and the hematocrit was 18%. What type of blood would you give if the type and crossmatch were not completed?
Answer:
This patient needs immediate blood transfusion. Type O uncrossmatched red blood cells can be given until type-specific blood is available; in this case, type O Rh-positive red blood cells would be appropriate if there is no prior history of a blood transfusion reaction. Type O Rh-negative blood is typically reserved for populations, for example, females of childbearing age, at a higher risk of developing alloimmunization. In the setting of massive hemorrhage protocol, switching over to type-specific blood should happen as soon as possible, regardless of the number of group O units administered.
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