Final answer:
The transfusion of packed red blood cells will help Ms. Lawrence recover from the blood loss caused by a duodenal ulcer by replenishing her red blood cell count, thereby increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of her blood and treating or preventing anemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
A transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) is a common treatment for patients experiencing blood loss anemias, like those caused by a bleeding duodenal ulcer. Ms. Lawrence is receiving this treatment to replenish the red blood cell count lost due to the ulcer. The PRBC transfusion will increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of her blood, helping to compensate for the blood volume lost and prevent or treat anemia that can occur from such a hemorrhage.
In addition to bleeding from ulcers, blood loss anemias can be caused by various conditions such as gastritis, hemorrhoids, or cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Certain medications like aspirin or ibuprofen may exacerbate these conditions leading to further blood loss. It is crucial to ensure that donated blood for transfusions like Ms. Lawrence's is adequately screened and matched to prevent complications like agglutination, which is the clumping of red blood cells due to antibodies.
Reflecting on the supply of blood for transfusions, it is important to understand that conditions leading to blood loss anemias, if widespread, could potentially increase the demand for blood transfusions. This underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy donor population and efficient blood collection and processing services to meet potential increases in demand.