The nurse is assessing a client admitted with cyanotic heart disease. Which hematology laboratory result does the nurse expect to assess?
a. Anemia
b. Polycythemia
c. Normal
d. Decreased hemoglobin
B
Polycythemia can occur as a result of hypoxia, such as that experienced at high altitude or when oxygen is not sufficiently directed to the tissues, as in cyanotic heart disease. Anemia is a decrease in the number of RBCs, a reduction in their hemoglobin content, or a reduced volume of packed RBCs. Anemia results from one of two problems: either too rapid a loss of RBCs (by covert or overt bleeding or destruction) or too slow a production of RBCs. Anemias are categorized according to the size of the RBC (macrocytic, microcytic, normocytic) and the content of hemoglobin in the RBC (hypochromic, normochromic). The hematology laboratory result would not be normal because of the chronic hypoxia seen with cyanotic heart disease.
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