The nurse has admitted a child with a cyanotic heart defect. The nurse would expect the initial lab result to show:

Question

1. A high hemoglobin.
2. A low hematocrit.
3. A high white blood cell count.
4. A low platelet count.

Answer 1

1
Rationale:
1. The child's bone marrow responds to chronic hypoxemia by producing more red blood cells to increase the amount of hemoglobin available to carry oxygen to the tissues. This occurs in cases of cyanotic heart defects.
2. The hematocrit would not be low.
3. The white blood cell count would not be high unless an infection were present.
4. The platelets would be normal.
Assessment
Physiological Integrity
Analysis
Learning Outcome 26.3 Describe the pathophysiology associated with congenital heart defects associated with increased pulmonary circulation, decreased pulmonary circulation, mixed defects, and obstructed systemic blood flow.