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Bleeding
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Abdullahi!:
What happens to the PCV immediately after blood loss?
Yaxya:
packed cell volume immediately after bleeding either not changed or increased due to hemoconcentration so the best way is to measure PCV immediately after bleeding and after a while to compare both values so the decline in the value of PCV in the later indicates roughly the severity of blood loss.
Diagnostic:
The hematocrit is a measure of the red blood cell mass, expressed as a percentage.
Blood is placed in a test tube and centrifuged to separate the heavier red blood cells from the lighter serum and plasma. The percentage of the blood volume occupied by the mass of red cells is the hematocrit.
Increased in the Presence of:
* Hemoconcentration
* COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
* CHF (congestive heart failure)
* Smokers
* Pre-eclampsia
Decreased in the Presence of:
* Anemia
* Leukemia
* Hyperthryroidism
* Chronic liver disease
* Hemolysis:
o Transfusion reaction
o Drug/chemical reaction
o Infection
o Burns
o Mechanical disruption (artificial heart valves)
* Systemic Disease
o Cancer
o Lupus
o Sardoidosis
Packed Cell Volume
Men 40%-54%
Women 37%-47%
Pregnancy 33%-44%
Newborn 50%-62%
Special Considerations
* Smokers typically have elevated hematocrits in response to chronic, low-grade carbon monoxide poisoning and other mild respiratory ailments. Because of the carbon monoxide binding, they may still be functionally anemic, even though their hematocrit levels look good.
* Adaptation to high altitudes includes moderate elevation of hematocrit.
* During the initial phases of an acute hemorrhage, the hematocrit generally doesn't change very much. Later, as extracellular fluid is mobilized and IV fluids are incorporated, there is a dilutional effect that will lead to a reduced hematocrit. This fall in hematocrit may take several hours to develop.
Source: www.brooksidepress.org
Abdullahi!:
Thanks Dr.Yaxya and diagnostic for your replies
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