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You started a transfusion of packed RBCs about 1 hour ago. Your patient has suddenly developed shaking chills, muscle stiffness, and a temperature of 101.4 Fahrenheit. He appears flushed and reports a headache and "nervousness". Your patient has most likely developed which type of transfusion reaction?

User Greg Gum
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The patient's symptoms suggest a hemolytic transfusion reaction due to incompatible blood types. This type II hypersensitivity reaction causes inflammatory responses and RBC destruction after transfusion with mismatched blood types.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient has most likely developed a hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR), which is a type II hypersensitivity reaction caused by the transfusion of incompatible RH or ABO blood types. The symptoms of high fever, shaking chills, increased temperature, headache, and muscle stiffness are consistent with this type of reaction. In such cases, anti-A antibodies aggultinate the transfused RBCs and activate the complement system, leading to inflammatory responses, hemolysis, and the release of debris that can obstruct blood vessels, potentially causing a circulatory shock.

Immediate actions should be taken to halt the transfusion, stabilize the patient, and treat the reactions. It is critical to ensure that patients receive blood transfusions with matching blood types to prevent such life-threatening situations.

User Shalamus
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