Febrile oncology pt to transfuse or not? Help!!

Specialties Oncology

Published

hi everyone out there, I need an answer to this problem which is threatening to split the unit in half. We are a med-surg unit and an oncology pt with a plt of 5k was brought in with orders to transfuse2 units plts and 2 units PRBC, when night shift came 1830-0700, he hadnt rec'd his plt nor PRBC, his temp at this time was 101.5, md was notified, gave orders to transfuse when temp is below 100, all night pt's temp stayed above 100 even with the administration of tylenol ES as ordered. Did l mention that pt came on the unit with an order to premedicate with regular tylenol and benadryl before transfusion. What would any of you oncology nurses have done with this pt? Thanks for any help you provide.

Specializes in Women's Health, Oncology.

Read this...

Good article on fever and neutropenia...

http://www.cancer.org/downloads/CRI/NCCN_Fever_2002.pdf

Nurse Ratched,

Thanks for that link, it's a nice for pt. education.

Becky

The link was good...thank you. However, I still have not found an answer for "fever eating up platlets". Does anyone know the rationale for this?

Thanks, Julie

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