Question

You are treating and transporting a 26-year-old female involved in an MVA. She has multiple injuries, but all associated hemorrhage is controlled. The patient is exhibiting signs and symptoms of hypovolemic shock. During treatment and transport, you infuse one liter of lactated Ringer's solution, and the patient remains hypotensive.

Once at the hospital, which of the following is most likely to be administered immediately upon arrival?

A) O-negative whole blood containing plasma
B) O-negative packed red blood cells
C) O-positive packed red blood cells
D) O-positive whole blood without plasma

Answer 1

At the hospital, O-negative packed red blood cells are likely to be administered to the patient showing signs of hypovolemic shock after a motor vehicle accident, as O-negative is the universal donor type and PRBCs restore oxygen-carrying capacity without excessive volume increase.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a 26-year-old female is involved in a motor vehicle accident and is transported to the hospital showing signs of hypovolemic shock despite infusion with lactated Ringer's solution, the hospital is likely to administer O-negative packed red blood cells (PRBCs). This is because O-negative blood is the universal donor type and can be transfused to patients of any blood type without the risk of an acute hemolytic transfusion reaction. While whole blood contains plasma and clotting factors, PRBCs are typically used to restore oxygen-carrying capacity without significantly increasing blood volume, which is particularly important in a patient exhibiting signs of hypovolemic shock who has already received fluid resuscitation.