Anemia - Blood loss

Hypovolemic anemia - Abnormally low circulating blood vol due to blood loss
Pernicious anemia - Absence of intrinsic factor
Aplastic anemia - Decrease of bone marrow function
Iron def. anemia - caused by chronic bleeding
Sickle cell anemia - Abnormal, crescent-shaped RBC. Aching joints in hands + feet.
Splenic sequestration crisis - RBCs get stuck in spleen making it enlarge quickly
Agranulocytosis - Severe reduction in # of granulocytes, neutrophils, basophils, +
eosinophils.
Polycythemia - Blood vol. that is occupied by RBCs.
Leukemia - accumulate in bone marrow + lymph nodes.
Hemophilia - Hereditary coag disorder characterized by disturbance of clotting factor.
(Male).
Von willebrands disease - slow coag of blood. (Female).
(DIC) - Over stimulation of clotting + anti-clotting processes from injury
Lymphangitis - caused by staph or strep infection of extremity.
Lymphedema - Accumulation of lymph in soft tissue.
Phagocytosis - engulf any foreign material + digest it.
Aplastic - Decreased cell production
Hemolytic - Premature destruction
A differential WBC count measures the 5 types of WBCs + reports them as
percentages of the total examined. May also be reported as absolute counts.
Bands -a shift to the left.
The average size, or volume, of a RBC = mean corpuscular volume (mcv).
CBC = red + white cell counts, hct, hgb, erythrocyte indexes, differential WBC count, +
exam of peripheral blood cells.
Hematocrit (hct): measures the volume percentage of RBCs. Dependent on plasma
volume. Too much fluid diluted hct.
Hemoglobin (hgb): carries o2 from lungs to cells + carbon dioxide away from cells to
lungs.
Lymphocytes T cells + B cells. They protect the body by destroying foreign antigen. B
cells search, identify, + bind w/ specific antigens. T cells divide rapidly + produce large
#s of new T cells that are sensitized to antigen. B cells produce antibody.
RBCs are formed in the red bone marrow.
Eosinophils react to allergens + some parasitic worms.
S/S of anemia - hypotension, resp distress, acute mental change, shortness of
breath, fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness. Severe is shock, severe hypotension, MI,
stroke, confusion, + sometimes death.
Spleen: LUQ. Stores 500mL/1 pint of blood, which can be released during emergencies.
Destroys worn-out or defective RBCs.
Iron stains skin if given by injection.

Leukemia build up of leukocytes + causes leg pain.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) - Most common age 55+
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) - Young children + adults
Bone marrow transplant: must be irradiated before procedure. Best place to draw from
is post iliac crest.
Thrombocytopenia: deficiency in the # of circulating platelets. Major signs are petechiae
+ ecchymosis.
Hemophilia: Passed from mother to son as sex-linked recessive characteristic.Tympanic
temp.
Hemophilia A - Deficiency factor VIII
Hemophilia B (Christmas disease) - Factor IX
Hemophilia C (Rosenthal's disease) - Factor XI

S/S hypovolemic anemia includes restlessness (#1), rise in respirations, weakness,

stupor, irritability, pale/cool/moist skin, rapid/thready pulse. Blood loss can cause shock.
Jehovah's witness are opposed to blood transfusions. Some may be ok w autologous
transfusion (removing own blood preop, while replacing w blood expander).
Causes of iron def. anemia include inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, blood
loss, or hemolysis (breakdown of RBCs).
Iron Foods dark meats + organs, Dark green veggies, dried fruits, eggs, legumes +
nuts.
What is the preferred diagnostic test for evaluating deep lymph nodes? CT
The nurse is caring for a patient w hemophilia. Which of the following nursing diagnoses
would be expected on the nursing care plan?
Ineffective tissue perfusion
Fluid volume deficit
Anxiety
Pain
Hemarthrosis: Bleeding into a joint space, a hallmark of severe disease usually
occurring in the knees, ankles, & elbow
Cause unknown: Idiopathic
Leukopenia: An abnormal decrease in the number of white blood cells to fewer than
5000 cells/mm due to depression of the bone marrow
Pancytopenic: Deficient condition of all 3 major blood elements (red cells, white cells, &
platelets) results from bone marrow being reduced or absent
Plasma is the light yellow fluid of the blood & constitutes 45% of the bloods volume.
What is the average lifespan of a Red Blood Cell? 120 days
What is the lifespan for WBC's? few days to several years
What is the lifespan for Neutrophils? 7 hours, after which they die, along with the
bacteria & debris they have engulfed.
Schillings Test: To diagnose pernicious anemia
Pernicious Anemia: caused by impaired intestinal absorption of vitamin B12, which is
needed to make RBC's
Blood Type

Can Have

O, A

O, B

AB (univ recip)

O, A, B, AB

O (univ donor)

Hodgkin's disease: reed-sternberg cells. Ages 15-40, 55+. Alcohol triggers pain.
Inflammation or infectious process that develops into neoplasm (cancer).
Found in cervical, axillary, inguinal, or mediastinal lymph nodes.
Stage I - Single node or side (localized)
Stage II - 2+ node on same side of diaphragm (localized)
Stage III - Nodes on both sides are involved (generalized)
Stage IV - Least curable. Widely spread through nodes + possibly organs,
bone marrow, + liver. (generalized)
S/S
Anorexia
Weight loss (worse prognosis)
Fever (worse prognosis)
Night sweats (worse

Malaise
Extreme pruritus
Cough
Dysphagia
Stridor

prognosis)

Non-hodgkin's: DOES NOT have reed-sternberg cells. Involves B + T cells. Poorer

prognosis. 50+. Group of malignant neoplasms.
More common. Virus assoc Epstein-barr, herpes, h. pylori. Found in cervical
lymph nodes, spread to lymph tissue in spleen, liver, GI tract, + bone marrow. Areas
that make you more susceptible Farming Printing - Medicines - Electronics Leather
S/S
Painless, enlarged nodes
Fever
Weight loss
Night sweats

Anemia
Pruritus
Fatigue
Suscep. to infections