Which among the following condition required repeated blood transfusion?

OSSSC Nursing Officer-2023

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: OSSSC Nursing Officer-2023

Explanation

Thalassemia major is a genetic disorder where the body fails to produce sufficient beta-globin chains for hemoglobin.
This defect results in severe, life-threatening anemia from early childhood.
The standard and essential treatment is a lifelong program of regular blood transfusions (e.g., every 2-4 weeks) to maintain adequate hemoglobin levels for survival and growth.
This dependency on transfusions makes it the correct answer among the choices.

Option A: Iron deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of iron and is treated by replenishing iron stores through oral or IV supplements.
Option B: Pernicious anemia is a type of vitamin B12 deficiency caused by an autoimmune process. The primary treatment is lifelong vitamin B12 replacement via injections or high-dose oral supplements.
Option D: This is a broader category that includes pernicious anemia. It is caused by dietary deficiency or malabsorption of vitamin B12. The treatment is to correct the underlying cause and replace the vitamin.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Differentiating treatment modalities for various types of anemia, specifically the requirement for chronic transfusion therapy helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a critical role in managing patients with thalassemia, which includes administering blood transfusions, monitoring for transfusion reactions, and educating patients and families about the importance of iron chelation therapy.
A key nursing responsibility is monitoring for signs of iron overload, a major complication of chronic transfusions. This includes assessing cardiac function (e.g., for arrhythmias, heart failure) and liver function, and tracking serum ferritin levels.
Patient education on adherence to both transfusion schedules and chelation therapy is vital for long-term survival and quality of life.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core requirement of the question: which condition needs 'repeated' blood transfusions. The word 'repeated' implies a chronic, ongoing need, not a one-time emergency treatment.
Next, consider each option. Think about the underlying cause of each type of anemia.
Recall that nutritional anemias, like iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency, are typically treated by replacing the missing nutrient.
Recall that Thalassemia is a genetic disorder affecting hemoglobin production itself, which cannot be corrected with supplements.
Conclude that the genetic defect in Thalassemia leads to a constant state of severe anemia, making repeated transfusions the only way to sustain life.
Therefore, select Thalassemia as the condition requiring repeated blood transfusions.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Differentiating treatment modalities for various types of anemia, specifically the requirement for chronic transfusion therapy.
Stem keywords: repeated blood transfusion, condition, anemia
Lead-in keywords: Which among

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 974-976

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) pp. 362-364, 355-357