Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: - IAWG

Clinical use of blood, blood products and replacement fluidsC-31• Record the following information on the woman’s chart:- type of transfusion reaction;- length of time after the start of transfusion that the reactionoccurred;- volume and type of blood products transfused;- unique donation numbers of all products transfused.REPLACEMENT FLUIDS: SIMPLE ALTERNATIVES TOTRANSFUSIONOnly normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%) or balanced salt solutionsthat have a similar concentration of sodium to plasma are effectivereplacement fluids. These should be available in all hospitals where IVreplacement fluids are used.Replacement fluids are used to replace abnormal losses of blood,plasma or other extracellular fluids by increasing the volume of thevascular compartment. They are used principally in:• management of women with established hypovolaemia (e.g.haemorrhagic shock);• maintenance of normovolaemia in women with on-going fluidlosses (e.g. surgical blood loss).INTRAVENOUS REPLACEMENT THERAPYIntravenous replacement fluids are first-line treatment forhypovolaemia. Initial treatment with these fluids may be life-saving andcan provide some time to control bleeding and obtain blood fortransfusion if it becomes necessary.CRYSTALLOID FLUIDS• Crystalloid replacement fluids:- contain a similar concentration of sodium to plasma;- cannot enter cells because the cell membrane is impermeable tosodium;