After administering a bag of whole blood or Hextend, what should the medic do next concerning the systolic blood pressure?

The correct action after administering a bag of whole blood or Hextend is to convert to a saline lock and keep it below 100. This step is crucial as it helps to manage the patient's fluid status and ensure that they are not overloaded with additional fluids. A saline lock allows for easy access to the intravenous line without continuously infusing fluids, which is important for monitoring the systolic blood pressure and overall hemodynamic status.

Keeping the systolic blood pressure below 100 mmHg after fluid resuscitation can be a strategic approach to avoid potential complications such as fluid overload, especially in trauma patients where rapid changes in blood volume can lead to further issues. This management helps to assess the effectiveness of the intervention and allows for stabilizing the patient before making additional treatment decisions.

Monitoring for signs of shock is also important, but immediate conversion to a saline lock helps ensure that the blood pressure and fluid balance are managed effectively. Therefore, choosing to manage the intravenous access directly following the administration of blood products reflects best practices in emergency care and patient management.