Platelets and Plasma Question

You give plasma and platelets just like you give packed red blood cells. They can be given at a faster rate. I have given platelets and plasma under 45 minutes. But the rate depends on the patient.

Like MichiganRN said, same rules apply as far as 2 RN check, vitals, check for reaction, etc. But they can be given over about an hour or less depending on the patient. We use the same tubing for blood, platelets, and plasma. Same set up with a bag of NS piggybacked.

Your hospital should have blood administration policies for each type of product. Some blood banks pre-filter platelets, some do not. The previous writer is correct- platelets, factor, cyro, FFP can be given faster typically than PRBC's. However, I have pushed packed cells in an emergency situation, but you need a physician's order.

Remember, platelets typically can generate more antibody creation (and therefore reactions) than any other blood product. We can see platelet levels drift to less than 20K in some patient populations (heme/onc, HUS, auto-immune) before we transfuse.

Classic s/s of transfusion reaction are hemolysis, hemeturia, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, feeling of impending doom or severe anxiety. If you suspect a reaction, stop the infusion immediately, KVO with normal saline, call your MD and do not throw anything away- tubing, bag or paperwork.

Hope this helps!

I work in the ICU so we tend to try and get things in ASAP. We often pressure bag our products in (all other things considered of course). If it isn't a big deal I just run it in wide open and it usually takes a good 45- an hour. I don't really worry about drip rate etc. unless I need to (CHF etc.). Just keep a close look on the patient. Transfusion rxns are rare and occur pretty fast from what I understand. Blood vitals are recorded in such a fashion to address this.