chemistry blood work (Na, K,BUN)

mama_d, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2008

I would hazard to guess off the top of my head that the chemistries were looking for possible causes of syncope r/t electrolye imbalances and the coags were looking to see what kind of risk for a bleed s/p fall. Infections can cause confusion in the elderly, so CBC could be for that.

I'll be interested to see what other opinions are...

jtksmith31 · Oct 8, 2008

thank you

sailornurse · Oct 12, 2008

Hyponatremia can cause confusion.

spongebob6286, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2008

"I just wanted to know why besides having it to look back on later" ... what do you mean by this statement?

I think the reason why the pt fell because of the condition itself. it is a motor system disorder. dopaminergic cells are damaged or degenerated. this will make the nerve cells fire uncontrollably. thus pt can have instability, impairment in balance and coordination, etc.

jtksmith31 · Oct 14, 2008

hI...

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE EXPLAIN C/O AND STROKE VOLUME TO ME IN NORMAL TERMS??

JEN:banghead:

jtksmith31 · Oct 14, 2008

I Meant To Compare The Results With Other Blood Work

driving85 · Oct 14, 2008

cardiac output is the amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute. the formula for cardiac output is:

cardiac output in ml/min = heart rate (beats/min) x stroke volume (ml/beat)

stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected from the left ventricle during systole.

the formula for stroke volume is:

sv = edv − esv (end diastolic volume-end systolic volume)

driving85 · Oct 14, 2008

as far as your original question goes:

hyperkalemia can cause cardiac arrythmia, which could have caused the original fall.
hyponatremia can cause confusion, which can lead to a fall.
hyperglycemia can cause seizure, leading to a fall
a low hemoglobin and hematocrit could also lead to cardiac arrythmia.
coag studies will determine if clotting times are decreased.
- decreased clotting times may lead to clots in inappropriate places.
- a ct for pe (pulmonary embolism) and thrombotic stroke, if not already done, may be ordered.
- additional, advanced clotting studies may be ordered
- increased clotting times may lead to bleeding in inappropriate places.
- monitoring for internal bleeding following a fall (i.e.: careful observation of vital signs; monitoring of pain, especially around the area where the patient fell) is important
- again, a head ct, if not already done may be done to r/o (rule out) a hemorrhagic stroke.

hope this helps.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2008

Cardiac output very simply consists of

the volume of blood
the heart rate

Stroke volume is the amount of blood that gets pump out with each beat of the heart.

How does that relate to labwork? There is no labwork that can give evidence of heart rate. That has to be done by tests like the EKG. However, the volume of blood can be indirectly measured. We know what components and in what normal amounts belong in the blood. So, this is what labwork is telling us. Hematology studies give you information about the types and numbers of blood cells present. Chemistries of various things like electrolytes and protein will tell you about the other components of the fluid portion of blood and their numbers or percentages. Anything that changes the total amount of blood in the circulatory system (the pipes) is going to affect cardiac output. If a patient is dehydrated, the fluid component is low. If there has been hemorrhage, the blood cells are low. If the kidneys are failing, the proteins are low which causes fluid shifts from the circulatory system (the pipes) into the tissues (edema). Keep in mind that chemistry principles are at work. If electrolytes are messed up, that is going to affect the fluid composition of the blood and, thereby, the volume of blood in circulation.

That's about as simple as I can make it.