calcium gluconate after BT

[kathykaye]

hi.. i just wanna ask the rationale of giving calcium gluconate after blood transfusion... thanks!

[kathykaye]

correct me if im wrong...

it's because each unit of blood contains citrate. it acts as a chelating agent and anti coagulant, thus cause hypocalcemia.

another, it will prevent citrate toxicity because the liver metabolizes this slowly. each unit may contain about 3g of citrate.

am i right?