Low Hgb

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Patient up from the ER, GI bleed.

Hgb 3.5

Totally alert and oriented, but "a little pale" (suprising I know). Four units later he is slowly creeping up. After lab stuck him for another H+H he removed his bandage and said "yeah I don't really bleed much". Interesting

Anyway anyone got anything lower than 3.5 they want to share.

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Thats lower than what I've seen. I've seen 4.8, and we were coding her. lab kept calling us wanting a re-draw. lol, bless their little hearts.

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Specializes in CV/CTICU.

hgb 3.5 and patient is still alert and conscious?? :specs: that's the record low i have ever seen. did u consider other causes like hemodilution,etc.. ??

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When I was tanking I was supposed to get four units but they only gave me three and I never found out what my final hgb was but I was at the point of passing out 100% of the time. My PCP examined me and allowed me to go around on my feet, (I almost passed out within steps of her office), and didn't stop me from returning to my car. Needless to say I am now very gun-shy when it comes to relying on expert opinions.

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Specializes in ICU, Research, Corrections.

I had a Jehovah Witness pt once that was in the low 2s. She had multiple comorbidities and I didn't think she was going to make it. But she did, amazingly.

Personally, I have had an Hgb of 3.5. It was before I was an RN and I had no idea it was a slow GI bleed. I only became symptomatic at 3.5. I was dizzy when I bent over and could feel my heart beating in my ears loudly. I even drove myself about 15 miles to a hospital, (told my husband not to come along because he would be bored.) Stupid! I got 6 units of blood. The hospital was a large trauma center - so my 3.5 Hgb did not even buy me a bed in ICU!

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Yes, I've had several JW's that are post-op have hgb 1-3.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.
hgb 3.5 and patient is still alert and conscious?? :specs: that's the record low i have ever seen. did u consider other causes like hemodilution,etc.. ??

Had a 70 something year old drive herself to the hospital with a crit this low - she got 6 units on my shift. And, yes, it was rechecked and accurate.

I've had several with crits less than 10 (do not recall the hgb) that were alert and talking.

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4.5 or so I think.

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Specializes in MICU/SICU/CVICU.

Had one last night Hgb 3, crit 9. White as a sheet but otherwise completely stable.

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Had a 2-that coded and died:smackingf

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