PA21.1-6 | Blood Components & Clinical Uses — Summary & Reflection

REFLECT

Consider a rural district hospital with limited blood bank infrastructure — they can only store one type of blood component. Which single component would you prioritise stocking, and why? How would your answer change if the primary case-mix were (a) obstetric haemorrhage, (b) dengue with thrombocytopenia, or (c) warfarin-poisoning patients? Discuss with a classmate and note your reasoning — there is no single correct answer, but good clinical reasoning will balance oxygen-carrying capacity, platelet needs, and coagulation support.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Key takeaways from this module:

1. Component therapy over whole blood — one donation treats up to four patients; reduces TACO; allows optimised storage per component.

1. PRBC — storage 2–6°C, 42 days; 1 unit raises Hb ~1 g/dL; transfuse for symptomatic anaemia or acute haemorrhagic loss.

1. Platelet concentrate — storage 20–24°C with agitation, only 5 days; prophylactic threshold <10,000/µL; apheresis reduces donor exposure.

1. FFP — frozen within 8 h; −18°C for 12 months; used for multiple factor deficiencies, DIC, warfarin reversal, and as replacement fluid in TTP plasma exchange.

1. Cryoprecipitate — concentrated fibrinogen + Factor VIII + vWF + Factor XIII; preferred for hypofibrinogenaemia over FFP (volume advantage).

1. Massive transfusion complications: citrate toxicity/hypocalcaemia, hyperkalaemia, hypothermia, dilutional coagulopathy, metabolic acidosis. Use 1:1:1 ratio and blood warmers.

1. Leukoreduction prevents FNHTR, HLA alloimmunisation, CMV transmission. Irradiation prevents TA-GvHD in immunocompromised patients.

1. Cross-link to H10 (Bleeding Disorders): FFP and cryoprecipitate bridge to factor deficiency management; factor concentrates now preferred for haemophilia.