Simon Ross Deveau explains why blood products must be matched with patients’ blood groups to avoid acute haemolytic reaction and death
Blood loss due to trauma is a leading cause of death in young people and is the result of the ‘lethal triad’ of hypothermia, acidosis and coagulopathy, which collectively reduce haemostasis. Emergency department nurses can help to reverse the triad through the timely and efficient use of blood products and fluids. This article briefly examines different blood groups, describes the elements of the lethal triad, and discusses the blood products used to transfuse patients with major haemorrhage.
Emergency Nurse. 23, 9, 31-39. doi: 10.7748/en.23.9.31.s26
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to double-blind review and has been checked using antiplagiarism software
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 16 June 2015
Accepted: 08 December 2015
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