An accident victim receives a blood transfusion. Shortly thereafter, he begins to have difficulty breathing, develops a fever, and experiences nausea and vomiting. Which of the following is the most likely interpretation of these events?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The recipient had previously been exposed to foreign blood group antigens, and the blood transfusion was mismatched. This is the most likely interpretation of the events because the recipient began to have difficulty breathing, developed a fever, and experienced nausea and vomiting shortly after receiving the blood transfusion. These are all symptoms of a transfusion reaction, which can occur when the recipient's immune system attacks the foreign blood cells.

An Accident Victim Receives a Blood Transfusion