Which of the following complications is likely to result after several units of blood have been transfered?
High-Yield Explanation
Massive transfusion is defined as the need to transfere one to two times the patients normal blood volume or >50% of blood volume wihtin 3 hours.
In a normal adult, this is equivalent 10-20 units
Most common abnormality is metabolic alkalosis.
It results from the conversion of citrate (present in stored blood) and lactate (accumulated due to hypoperfusion) to bicarbonate.