questions about burns

aruray · Dec 11, 2004

where did u get that info? i'd help u look it up but im preparing for the finals myself =P but while i was reading my material in burns, one of the lab values were carboxyhemoglobin, and indicates a RISE in this level. didnt see anything mentioned about hgb. carboxyhgb is high in smoke inhalation. carbon monoxide has a higher affinity than O2 in hgb. with that said, i guess, O2 capacity of hgb is decreased causing its levels to be low. (i think)

hct is understandablly high due to hypovolemia.

is this material for the final exam? i hope ur not killing urself studying lil bits of details like these because 99% of the time they dont come up. more importatntly, know the core concepts........and do nclex questions! i had to learn that the hard way.:uhoh21:

blue eyes · Dec 12, 2004

questions about burns!
i don't understand why hemoglobin is decreaseed secondary to hemolysis. if anyone knows this please reply back. thank you.
:balloons:

Here is what I found in my A & P text.

"Hemolysis, the rapture of RBCs, releases Hb and leaves empty plasma membranes. The membrane fragements are easily digested by macrophages in the liver and spleen".

So wouldn't a decreased count of hemoglobin due to hemolysis be as a result of raptured RBCs? There may be more to it, but this is all I could find.

not now, RN · Dec 12, 2004

The hemoglobin value is increased because it's a percentage of blood cells vs. palsma. Since fluid (ie plasma) leaves the vascular compartment in a burn patient the only thing left are blood cells. The total blood volume may be down but the hemoglobin is increased due to the lack of plasma.

Does that help?

janetrette · Dec 12, 2004

yes, it did! thanks! :balloons: