Lab Values Help

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What are the 5 most important lab values for a woman postpartum who had a C/S?

I have: Hgb, Hct, and CBC.

Would the other two be platelets and RBC?

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Think about it - she had surgery. Might she actively bleed?

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Think about what labs might indicate infection...

Also, just FYI, a hgb, hct, RBC, platelets and (the lab that might indicate infection) are all included in a CBC, so I don't think you need to include CBC.

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Specializes in MED/SURG; POST-OP GU/GYN.

Hgb, Hct, WBC, Plt count, possibly coags (ptt, pt, inr).

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Specializes in Only the O.R. and proud of it!.

Holy cow

Going way back here. But speaking as an OR nurse, why get a lab to see if there's post op infection? I wouldn't worry about an infected wound unless there was heat and redness, maybe accompanied by purulent drainage and/or fever.

However, bleeding in the uterus wouldn't be outwardly noticed until perhaps a liter or more were lost unless she was dilated. Bleeding can also occur within the abdominal cavity and not be noticed until she were to become hypotensive, tachycardic, or pale and feel that feeling of impending doom. Is it common to look at the HCG post delivery like they do after a tubal pregnancy? Don't know the answer to that one.

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Specializes in MED/SURG; POST-OP GU/GYN.

WBC levels may be elevated before any sign of incision site infection is present. I don't believe HCG levels are drawn routinely. I know we have had patients readmitted after delivery with uncontrolled lady partsl bleeding and usually an ultrasound confirms that there is still "products of conception" left. I am not in L&D, but the floor I work on is a post op gu/gyn floor and we routinely get pregnant women (who have not reached the 20 week mark to be admitted to L&D) and women who are status post delivery that may be experiencing complications.

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

No to Hcg

H & H are really the only ones we care about unless she was pre-eclamptic or showing elevated pressures.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
What are the 5 most important lab values for a woman postpartum who had a C/S?

I have: Hgb, Hct, and CBC.

Would the other two be platelets and RBC?

Thanks in advance!

Think about any surgical patient .....and the CBC includes Hgb/Hct. What is a CBC and what does it include that would be important to look for in any surgical patient?
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What does your OB text tell you to watch, and why?

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Specializes in Pedi.
What are the 5 most important lab values for a woman postpartum who had a C/S?

I have: Hgb, Hct, and CBC.

Would the other two be platelets and RBC?

Thanks in advance!

Do you know what a CBC is? Every test you mentioned is included in a CBC.

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Searching for labs that are associated with an infection would only be helpful 48-72hrs post operatively. After ALL surgeries there will be a bump in WBC's related to the inflammation/coag cascade brought on by the trauma that is surgery...

This question probably hints toward prioritizing labs that would indicate active bleeding and poor tissue perfusion...so CBC with coags, paying close attention to H&H, PLTs, ptt/inr.

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