AAA rupture

Agree with the others. You know a patient has had a AAA rupture when they experience sharp, tearing abdominal pain, a decreased level of consciousness, and decreased blood pressure.

However, assuming that it was caught in time, the patient rushed to surgery, and the AAA repaired, THEN what lab findings might we expect to see? Of course, we'd see the decreased H&H due to the blood loss, and what do you think the body's immune response to the presence of blood in the abdominal cavity might be?

have you looked at http://www.labtestsonline.org yet?

if not, i suggest you do a little reading about wbc's.

you'll find your answer there.:)

leslie

The sad truth is most people with this condition do not live long enough to worry about WBCs.

Last one we had was thought to be leaking, and we were literally going out the door to theatre when it was very clear she had ruptured (massive brick hard abdomen) and she died very quickly afterwards.

I care for have an elderly female diagnosed in the spring with an 8 cm AAA and she has refused surgery. I am not too sure that she and her family really understand what this means and every day I look at her in the am and wonder "will today will be the day" I've seen them blow while working in acute care-I know it will be fast for her.I hope the staff present at the time are supportive and not freaked out.I really hope it isn't me.

I had a pt waaay back when I started out with a big AAA, can't remember how big. He was terminally ill with CA as well, was a DNR, and so refused to have anything done for the AAA. He was fairly emaciated, and you could see his whole abdomen pulsate. It was kind of freaky. He was a very nice man. I always prayed whichever he way he ultimately died, that it was peaceful.

actually, bleeding to death is very peaceful.

think of our pts when they are profoundly hypovolemic...they go into shock.

nothing painful about a profound blleed for the pt.

i've watched many pts die this way...usually r/t an art bleed, but concept the same.

it's always harder on those watching.

leslie

I'm starting to think I never should have posted this question. As this is only making me more frustrated! Ughhh!

There is a response to pain that the body has that increases wbc's, you could go in that direction. A ruptured AAA is extremely painful (r/t abd pain from increased fluid in the abd, the patient writhes in bed) and I imagine if the patient lived long enough the pain could cause it to increase. Also the bodies natural clot fighting mechanisms... Look into that while you answer your question.

Its never enough to just answer the question correctly, you have to know the knowledge behind the correct answer to do well on the NCLEX.

actually, bleeding to death is very peaceful.

think of our pts when they are profoundly hypovolemic...they go into shock.

nothing painful about a profound blleed for the pt.

i've watched many pts die this way...usually r/t an art bleed, but concept the same.

it's always harder on those watching.

leslie

I don't know. The one patient that I saw that died of a ruptured AAA was in a huge amount of pain and very, very anxious for the 5 or so minutes that it took for him to lose consciousness. Granted, he was out of it for the end, but I would not discount the experience leading up to that.

I was not even taking care of that patient and I will never forget him

Questions like this are ridiculous for a test.

Questions like this are ridiculous for a test.

10000% agree with you on this one. I can't believe they don't spend time on more important things. It kind of annoys me, there are a million things to learn in nursing school and this is something they obviously want you to know? Next time I have a pt with an AAA rupture I'll say "quick, whats his WBC!" lol see how many blank stares I get.

Questions like this are ridiculous for a test.

Well, yes and no. The specific question is not geared toward relevant nursing considerations. However, understanding the physiology of the immune response, cell response to injury, and the role of inflammation following injury is of particular importance.