Response 1
Upon the loss of blood, the patient’s body will be stimulated through the action of erythropoietin produced by the kidneys to increase erythropoiesis. The result is the increase in the concentration of reticulocytes that will be seen in the peripheral blood smear. The reticulocyte will peak to range between 10 to 15% by the seventh day after the blood loss.
Response 2
The hypoxia is as a result of inadequate delivery of oxygen into the tissues. Hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen into the tissues. Hypovolemia causes a significant reduction in the level of hemoglobin which results in hypoxia.
Response 3
In acute blood loss, the red blood cell count is low while the reticulocyte count is high. On the other hand, anemia of chronic blood loss is characterized by low red blood cell count as well as low reticulocyte count. Acute blood loss results in normocytic normochromic anemia while anemia of chronic blood loss is characteristically hypochromic and microcytic.
Response 4
Circulatory shock is generally characterized by inadequate flow of blood to the tissues (Heller). This results from a failure in the components of the circulatory system such as the cardiac and vascular factors. These factors include cardiomyopathies, vascular obstruction and hemorrhage. Other forms of shock include neurogenic and septic shock which indirectly also result in circulatory shock.
Response 5
The interruption of normal blood volume is reflected in the lab results by a significant decline in the level of hemoglobin from the complete blood count. The physiological hemoglobin is ranges between 12g/dl and 18g/dl depending on gender. The lab results of a patient of low blood volume will show a hemoglobin level less than 12g/dl depending on the severity of the blood loss.
Response 6
The admission draw did not reflect the accurate blood picture. Upon blood loss, the body responds by activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system which causes the expansion of blood volume. At admission, the accurate severity of anemia will not be detected, however, another draw will be a reflection of the correct hemodynamic status of the patient.
Works Cited
Heller, Jacob L. MedicinePlus. 2014 January 2014. 16 January 2016. <https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000167.htm>.
