Published Jan 3, 2008
august07
25 Posts
How much can a pt.'s hg level rise after two units of PRBC? I had a pt. go from 9 to 13, can that be? Usually it seems to go up only by about 2. Has anyone seen big jumps like this after a transfusion?
TX RN
255 Posts
In my past experience I've seen that usually it's a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1 unit of PRBC's increases the Hgb by 1 point. Some other factors can skew that number though, was the patient adequately hydrated? Hemodilution and Hemoconcentration can be culprits in that lab error. I guess maybe patient height and weight can also be a factor here.
MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN
1,082 Posts
I agree with 1:1 ratio....that's what I've heard too.
However, labs may be different due to original blood draw style. We have been told that drawing blood through an iv site causes breakdown and a diluted value...so it is possible to use a butterfly later and have a much higher hgb if the original hgb was drawn through iv or central line sites...due to dilution.
Maisy;)
Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP
477 Posts
We are taught in school that for each unit of blood you get an increase of 1 Hgb and 3% Hct. So, according to my school, your pt should have gone from 9 Hgb to 11 Hgb. However, as is almost always the case, what I've learned in school doesn't always bear up under actual field experience.
core0
1,831 Posts
David Carpenter, PA-C