Final answer:
To prevent severe transfusion reactions and coagulopathies during blood transfusions, it's important to transfuse matched PRBCs and consider giving platelets and fresh frozen plasma to maintain proper clotting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The administration of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) is necessary in situations where a patient requires a blood transfusion. However, it is crucial to avoid complications such as transfusion reactions and coagulopathies. If a patient receives a transfusion with a mismatched blood type, their immune system can attack the transfused red blood cells, leading to a severe reaction. Symptoms of an incompatible transfusion may include fever, chills, itching, hives, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), hemoglobinuria, and hypotension, which can escalate to multi-organ failure and even death.
Moreover, to prevent excessive bleeding or clotting disorders like thrombocytopenia, which is a low platelet count that impairs blood clotting, transfusions of platelets and fresh frozen plasma may be necessary. Fresh frozen plasma contains essential clotting factors that help stabilize the patient's coagulation system. Hence, when administering PRBCs, concurrent consideration for platelets and plasma transfusion can mitigate the risk of clotting disorders and ensure a balance in hemostasis.