What are the expected lab findings for a patient with a NGT?

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What are the expected lab findings for a patient with a NGT?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Is there some missing information in your question?

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No, that's the question that was assigned to me to answer for homework. I am also confused. I was thinking to verify placement but that's not lab values. Then I was thinking along the lines of bun/creatinine for hydration status but I'm just not sure.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

You can check ph to confirm placement. Not sure if this is the direction your instructor is heading tho.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Is it to suction?

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Are there answers listed to choose from?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Think about it....normal secretions fluid are being removed from the body and they are not taking any nutrition or fluid.

Now what would you need to know about a sick dehydrated patient that is constantly vomiting (NGT drainage)?

What labs would be important....use your critical thinking skills.......

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

This may give you a head start....Dehydration

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Specializes in Critical care.

electrolytes? bicarb? serum albumin? Potassium?

lytes would probably be low... bicarb, could go either way right? albumin and K low...

Okay, where am I wrong? I'm a beginner, be nice lol...

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

A patient with an NG tube generally cannot have oral intake, which means they are being fed by IV fluids and if it stays in long enough, maybe TPN.

Someone with an NG tube is pretty much like someone who isn't eating, but is drinking sugar water to stay alive. What are they missing in their diet?

Furthermore, if the the NG tube is to suction, their gastric contents are being sucked up, pretty much like someone who is constantly vomiting. What would they lose from that vomit?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
electrolytes? bicarb? serum albumin? Potassium?

lytes would probably be low... bicarb, could go either way right? albumin and K low...

Okay, where am I wrong? I'm a beginner, be nice lol...

What lab is elevated if dehydrated...think renal
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Specializes in Critical care.
What lab is elevated if dehydrated...think renal

soooooooo if you're dehydrated, kidneys aren't filtering correctly. Sooooo creatine clearance I'm thinking might be affected? and be elevated?

again. just a beginner. I just started Medsurg 1 lol!

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