Lab Values (Exam 3)

H/H - Low

Can’t carry O2

S/Sx: Fatigue, SOB, decreased exercise tolerance, orthostatic hypotension

Causes: Blood loss, iron deficiency, chronic disease

PT Imp: vitals (normal O2 sats), increase rest breaks

H/H - High

Blood is too thick

S/Sx: Fatigue, headache, dizziness, TIA

Causes: Dehydration, severe burns, COPD, HF

PT Imp: Fall risk, vitals (HR), screen for TIA

WBC - High

Fighting something

S/Sx: fever, sick

Causes: infection, inflammation, stress

PT Imp: Decreased exercise tolerance

WBC - Low

Can’t fight

S/Sx: Frequent infection

Causes: Chemo, vital infection, autoimmune disease, aplastic anemia

PT Imp: Neutropenic precautions

Platelets - High

Clotting risk

S/Sx: Headache, dizziness, weakness, chest pain

Causes: Inflammation, stress, infection

PT Imp: prevent and screen for DVT

Platelets - Low

Bleeding risk

S/Sx: petechiae, ecchymosis, hematuria

Causes: Chemo, liver disease, viral infection

PT Imp: Fall risk (trauma), no high velocity manipulations or training

Electrolytes - High

Depressed system

S/Sx: Confusion, weakness, sluggish, arrhythmias

Causes: dehydration, kidney failure, excess intake

PT Imp: Screen for renal problems, increase rest breaks, simple instructions

Electrolytes - Low

Excitable system

S/Sx: Confusion, twitchy, cramps, irritable, seizures

Causes: Diuretics, vomiting/diarrhea, poor intake, kidney disease (losses)

CK - High

Sign of muscle breakdown

S/Sx: Muscle pain and weakness

Causes: disease/injury to heart, brain, or skeletal muscle

PT Imp: LOOK AT TRENDS, functional not resistance focused

Kidney (BUN/Creatinite) - High

Kidneys are not working

S/Sx: Kidney s/sx

Causes: Kidney disease, nutrition

PT Imp: ???

Glucose - High

Slow + dehydrated

S/Sx: Agitation. lethargic, feel sick, syncope

Causes: Diabetes, brain tumor, pancreatitis, sepsis

PT Imp: ???

Glucose - Low

Danger, brain needs sugar

S/Sx: Shake, sweaty, confused, dizzy, syncope

Causes: Malnutrition, brain tumor/injury, too much insulin

PT Imp: ???

Pulmonary - Respiratory Alkalosis

Depressed system, Low CO2 origin

S/Sx: Lightheaded, SOB, paresthesia, chest tightness siezure

Causes: Hyperventilation

PT Imp: Vitals, fall risk

Pulmonary - Respiratory Acidosis

Excitable system, high CO2 origin

S/Sx: Anxiety, confusion, fatigue/lethargy, tachy, fever

Causes: Respiratory distress, pulmonary disease

PT Imp: Fall risk, refer out when you see S/Sx

Respiratory - Metabolic Alkalosis

Depressed system, High HCO3 origin

S/Sx: Confusion, delirium, dysrhythmias, hypotension, cramping (Electrolyte S/Sx)

Causes: Prolonged vomiting

PT Imp: Refer for an ABG

Respiratory - Metabolic Acidosis

Excitable system, Low HCO3 origin

S/Sx: Dyspnea (Kussmaul Breathing), fatigue, nausea/vomiting, hypotension, tachy

Causes: Diabetes, shock, renal failure, intestinal fistula

PT Imp: ???

Liver (Albumin) - High

Key S/Sx: Orthostatic hypotension, dizzy

Causes: Dehydration

PT Imp: Fall risk, vitals (BP, HR)

Liver (Albumin) - Low

More common

Key S/Sx: Edema, ascites, hypotension

Causes: Liver disease, infection, burn, trauma, MI, surgery

PT Imp: Vitals, log roll, edema management, fall risk

Liver (Serum Bilirubin) - High

Breakdown of RBCs. Bilirubin itself isn’t dangerous, just signals liver disease

Key S/Sx: Jaundice, dark urine, abdominal pain

Causes: Hepatitis, hepatic duct obstruction

PT Imp: nothing specific

Liver (Ammonia) - High

Gets through the BBB

Key S/Sx: speech impairment, breakdown of motor skills, daytime sleepiness

Causes: Liver disease, GI bleed, Portal HTN

PT Imp: Simple instructions, decreased intensity, fall risk

Cardiac (Troponin, BNP) - High

Positive trend is sign of active MI

Key S/Sx: chest pain, SOB, fatigue

Causes: MI, heart failure

PT Imp: Look at trend, screen for MI, vitals, decreased exercise tolerance