Monitoring an obstetric patient’s vital signs during a blood transfusion is a crucial aspect of patient safety. The frequency and timing of these checks are dictated by established medical protocols to detect adverse reactions promptly. Typical monitoring schedules include assessments immediately before initiation, at 15 minutes after the start, at 30 minutes, hourly during the transfusion, and at the conclusion of the process. These regular checks encompass temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure, providing a comprehensive overview of the patient’s physiological response.
Consistent assessment serves several critical purposes. Primarily, it allows for early detection of transfusion reactions, such as allergic reactions, febrile non-hemolytic reactions, or, more rarely, acute hemolytic reactions. Early identification of these reactions is paramount to mitigating their potential severity. Furthermore, these vital sign checks provide essential data points for evaluating the patient’s overall hemodynamic stability during the transfusion period. Historically, meticulous monitoring practices have significantly decreased morbidity and mortality associated with blood transfusions.
