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In which patients is emergency transfusion of O RH⁺ blood products OK?

1) Patients with O RH⁺ blood type
2) Patients with O RH- blood type
3) Patients with A RH⁺ blood type
4) Patients with B RH⁺ blood type

User Ctyar
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Final answer:

In emergency transfusions where immediate blood availability is vital, O RH+ blood products can be transfused to patients with O RH+ blood type. It's not ideal for O RH- individuals due to potential Rh factor sensitization. A RH+ and B RH+ types can receive O RH+ but with some risk.

Step-by-step explanation:

In emergency situations where a patient needs an immediate transfusion and there is no time to cross-match blood types, O RH+ blood products can be transfused safely to patients with the same O RH+ blood type. This type of blood is considered a universal donor for RH+ individuals due to the absence of A and B antigens on the erythrocytes, which minimizes the risk of a transfusion reaction.

However, patients with O RH- blood type may form antibodies against the RH+ factor if they have prior exposure to RH+ blood. Therefore, it is not ideal to transfuse O RH+ blood to O RH- individuals. Similarly, A RH+ and B RH+ blood type patients would not be optimal recipients of O RH+ blood in non-emergency situations, as even though the risk of reaction is mitigated, it is not completely absent.

Ultimately, while O RH- blood is the ideal universal donor blood, O RH+ blood can be used in critical emergency cases for those with RH+ blood types when matched blood is not available.

User Andrew Little
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