Question

A patient has received multiple transfusions of banked blood in the past two hours. The patient has now developed muscle tremors and short runs of ventricular tachycardia. Which of the following medications does the nurse anticipate administering?

A. Hypertonic saline
B. Calcitonin
C. Insulin and glucose
D. Calcium glucona

Answer 1

The correct medication to anticipate for a patient with symptoms of hypocalcemia after multiple blood transfusions is calcium gluconate, as it treats hypocalcemia and can stabilize cardiac arrhythmias.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient has received multiple transfusions of banked blood and has developed muscle tremors and short runs of ventricular tachycardia, it suggests that the patient may be experiencing symptoms related to hyperkalemia or a calcium imbalance due to the transfusions. Excessive potassium intake or release from the transfused red blood cells can cause hyperkalemia, while transfusions may also cause hypocalcemia due to citrate used in stored blood binding to the patient’s calcium.

The correct medication that a nurse may anticipate administering in this situation would be calcium gluconate. Calcium gluconate is used to treat hypocalcemia and can help stabilize the heart muscle in cases of subsequent cardiac arrhythmias like ventricular tachycardia. It is used instead of other options such as hypertonic saline, calcitonin, or insulin and glucose, which do not directly address the potential calcium deficit.

Answer 2

A nurse would anticipate administering calcium gluconate to treat symptoms of hypocalcemia, such as muscle tremors and ventricular tachycardia, following multiple blood transfusions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient in the scenario has developed muscle tremors and short runs of ventricular tachycardia following multiple blood transfusions. This presentation is suggestive of hypocalcemia, which can occur after blood transfusions due to citrate used in stored blood to bind calcium and prevent clotting. The nurse is likely to anticipate administering calcium gluconate to treat the symptoms that are associated with low calcium levels.

Calcium gluconate is preferred in this scenario because it is a common medication used to treat acute symptomatic hypocalcemia and can help stabilize the heart rhythm and manage muscle tremors.