Blood products available for veterinary transfusions.

Blood products available for veterinary transfusions. The decision to use a blood product should be based on treatment goal. The use of packed RBCs (pRBCs) should be in the face of severe anemia at a dose of 10-20 mL/kg. This is because pRBCs do not provide clotting factors and provide no colloidal support, their primary use should be for the treatment of anemia. Whole blood, which has a colloid osmotic pressure (COP) of 20 mmHg, provides clotting factors, limited platelets, and red blood cells, and can be used for the treatment of both blood loss and coagulopathy. However, the numbers of platelets are minimal, and are only good if the product is collected and used within 2 hours. HBOCs ( hemoglobin oxygen carriers [Oxyglobin]). Oxyglobin is an ultrapurified, bovine-derived, stroma-free fluid in a Lactated Ringers Solution base and can be used for the treatment of anemia at a dose of 10-30 mL/kg (not to exceed 10 mL/kg/hr). Because it has a COP of 40 mm Hg, it can cause severe volume overload, particularly in cats or in patients with heart disease, and should be used at judicious rates. Oxyglobin is beneficial in that it increases hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, optimizing oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues. However, because of the purple pigmentation, physical examination assessment and colorimetric laboratory analysis may be skewed by the use of Oxyglobin. Likewise, when monitoring the benefit of Oxyglobin transfusions, the measurement of PCV is not beneficial, as Oxyglobin provides Hb, not RBC. As a result, a CBC must be performed to measure the hemoglobin and get an accurate evaluation of response to treatment. Keep in mind that Hb X 3 = PCV. If you had a patient with a Hb of 5 (estimated PCV 15%) and transfused him with Oxyglobin, a post-transfusion Hb may increase to 8 (estimated PCV of 24%). Its very important to note that the dosage for ANY blood product is 10-20 mL/kg.