Sentry Page Protection

Calculation Task 13


A male patient's haemoglobin (Hb) level on a routine blood test is found to be 7.0g/dl (Normal range: 13.0-18.0g/dl). The patient requires blood transfusions and each blood transfusion increases the Hb by an average of 1g/dl and takes 2 hours. With the patient's underlying heart failure, they can tolerate a maximum of two blood transfusions per day.

How many days will it take to return the patient's Hb to within the normal range assuming no further Hb losses.
​​
Minimum required Hb level = 13.0g/dl
Present Hb level = 7.0g/dl

Hb increase required = 6.0g/dl (13 - 7)
Number of transfusions required = 6 transfusions (1 transfusion = 1.0g/dl)

Number of days to complete 6 transfusions = 3 days (2 transfusions/day)
​