Question about Blood Types

Question

For my anatomy class, we need to know when to give a theoretical patient whole blood vs packed cells.

I am wondering if, for example, a patient had Type A blood, would we give them packed cells or whole cells and what type(s). Any help explaining this would be so helpful, thanks!!

Answer 1

Hello

For a type A blood, this is the important rule:

If you have type A blood, you cannot get a type B or AB blood cell



Patients with specific antigens do not make antibodies against their own antigens, but will against the other antigens in that group. So, if a patient has type A blood, they will make antibodies against the B antigen, not against the A antigen. That means that if this patient is given either type B red blood cells or type AB red blood cells, their antibodies will attack and destroy the foreign red cells possessing the B antigen, which leads to a transfusion reaction.

Whole blood should be given to patients with massive blood loss while packed cells should be given to patients with anemia.

Giving whole blood to patients with anemia may result to circulatory overload as whole blood comes with RBC's and other blood components, but in the case of a massive blood loss this will be the right action.

Packed cells should be given to patients with anemia

So type A or another type, you can give whole or packed cells depending on the clinical condition or the reason for transfusion after identifying the matching blood type. in the case of A, matching blood type will be A or O.

I hope this helps