222 – things that go bump in the night

“I’m sorry I don’t understand. We can’t group and save a specific number of units of blood. We can group and save a patient’s sample for ABO and Rh group, and screen for common antibodies. We can crossmatch a patient’s sample against a sample from a particular unit of donor blood. But group and saving four units makes no sense. What do you actually want?”

“I…want help.”

“Tell you what, shall I just get four units ready?”

“Yes please.”

Meanwhile, the FY1 seems very pleased with administering vitamin K. However, the patient’s INR will remain elevated for 12-24 hours given how long it takes to work. But that’s OK because we have the right blood coming now and a scope to be done…right?

In the distance, five floors above you, you hear a thud as your patient collapses on the floor.