Case Study: Blood Everywhere

Case Study: Blood Everywhere

1.) A hematocrit is the percentage ratio of the red blood volume to the total volume of the sample. Since the volume in the capillary tube is directly proportional to the lengths, we can calculate it by using h= 7.1 / 20 which equals h= 0.355 or 35.5%.

2.) The total volume of the sample will be divided by the supplied volume numbers of RBCs and plasma. h= 1.45 / (1.45 + 3.55). h = 1.45 / 5, h = 0.29 or 29%.

3.) The HCT drops despite no further blood loss because the hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells compared to the total volume of blood. Any increase or decrease in plasma volume directly affects the hematocrit. She first had a high hematocrit because the vasoconstriction of her arteries causes the vascular space to lose fluid in relation to other cellular elements. When her signs change and the arteries are not constricted, the plasma levels increase which in turn decrease the hematocrit levels.

4.) Paramedics gave a normal saline solution because the most immediate known problem was Maggie’s low blood pressure due to the loss of blood volume. A rapid normal saline solution infusion will restore some volume and improve blood pressure. Also NSS can be easily stored, does not need special refrigeration, is abundantly available and presents no risk of a transfusion reaction.

5.) A physician might be reluctant to order a blood transfusion because blood is sometimes in short supply and it also comes with some risks. The blood transfusion could cause a reaction within the body, blood could carry disease and also blood is much more expensive to obtain than normal saline solution.

6.) The hematocrit improves because her arteries are no longer constricted which then allows the plasma in the cells to reach a higher level and her red blood cells will be able to reproduce and allow for the hematocrit to improve.

7.) The other component of blood that could be measured would be the hemoglobin levels. Hemoglobin is the protein...