Anesthesia Technician Practice Exam

For surgical patients requiring volume resuscitation, what should be infused with red blood cells?

1. Colloid solutions

2. Crystalloid solutions

3. Hypertonic saline

4. Albumin

The correct answer is: Crystalloid solutions

When surgically managing patients requiring volume resuscitation, the primary aim is to restore intravascular volume and improve tissue perfusion. Infusing crystalloids along with red blood cells is standard practice because crystalloids are effective in quickly expanding circulating blood volume due to their ability to stay within the intravascular space initially. Crystalloid solutions, which contain water, electrolytes, and glucose, maintain blood pressure and enhance overall fluid balance. They are particularly advantageous because they can be administered in large volumes without significant risk of fluid overload when used judiciously. Additionally, crystalloids help dilute the viscosity of the red blood cells, supporting improved oxygen delivery and flow characteristics. Moreover, during volume resuscitation, it is essential to ensure that the stasis of blood products—such as red blood cells—is optimized through rapid infusion of compatible fluids. While other solutions like colloids, hypertonic saline, or albumin have their utility in specific contexts, they are not as commonly used in conjunction with red blood cells for immediate volume expansion compared to crystalloids. Thus, crystalloid solutions are favored for this purpose due to their balance of rapid intravascular filling and safety in administration.