Final answer:
Breathing masks are commonly used to deliver oxygen to patients with hematologic disorders, helping to improve oxygenation when anemia affects the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Intravenous saline solutions are used in emergencies to replace lost blood volume, and research into artificial blood products is ongoing to provide safe and effective ways to carry oxygen without RBCs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oxygen-delivering device typically used when administering oxygen to a patient with a hematologic disorder is dependent on the severity of the disorder and the specific needs of the patient. For example, in conditions like sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, where the red blood cells are malformed or possess lower-than-normal levels of hemoglobin, thereby diminishing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, a more controlled oxygen delivery system may be necessary. It is essential to maintain an adequate 'percent sat,' or percent saturation, which refers to the percentage of hemoglobin sites occupied by oxygen in the patient's blood. Patients having breathing problems may be given breathing masks with a higher concentration of oxygen to improve the rate of oxygen binding with hemoglobin, facilitating better oxygenation of tissues.
In cases of acute blood loss from trauma where transfusing type O blood isn't an option, intravenous administration of a saline solution is used to compensate for the lost volume, providing fluids and electrolytes. Additionally, the advent of research into artificial blood products, which are hemoglobin- or perfluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers, aims to create a safe and effective alternative capable of oxygen transport without reliance on red blood cells (RBCs), making emergency transfusion in the field more feasible without concerns for incompatibility.