Citrate in banked blood can cause hypocalcemia, increasing the risk of which complication?

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Multiple Choice

Citrate in banked blood can cause hypocalcemia, increasing the risk of which complication?

Explanation:
Citrate in banked blood prevents clotting by binding calcium. When transfused, this citrate enters the recipient’s circulation and can lower ionized calcium, causing hypocalcemia. Calcium is essential for cardiac electrical activity and the heart’s contractile function; low calcium can disrupt conduction and lead to arrhythmias, especially with large-volume or rapid transfusions or in patients with limited calcium buffering. That’s why the complication linked to citrate-induced hypocalcemia is arrhythmia. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and infection are not caused by this citrate effect.

Citrate in banked blood prevents clotting by binding calcium. When transfused, this citrate enters the recipient’s circulation and can lower ionized calcium, causing hypocalcemia. Calcium is essential for cardiac electrical activity and the heart’s contractile function; low calcium can disrupt conduction and lead to arrhythmias, especially with large-volume or rapid transfusions or in patients with limited calcium buffering. That’s why the complication linked to citrate-induced hypocalcemia is arrhythmia. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, and infection are not caused by this citrate effect.

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