You can be certain that during a stay in a hospital you will receive visits from the laboratory technician who will take a sample of blood. You will notice that the technician who draws your blood will collect it in glass tubes with rubber stoppers of different colors. For a complete blood count (CBC), the stopper is usually a mauve color because there is a chemical in the tube which stops the blood from clotting. For many other tests, the stopper is red and the tube is plain glass. The blood is allowed to clot and the clear yellowish fluid known as serum is used for testing. With modern needles and experienced personnel, the discomfort of having your blood taken is minimal.
Complete Blood Count. When a CBC is done, the technicians calculate the number of red blood cells per cubic milliliter of blood. They also look at the size and shape of the cells, the proportion of red cells to the total amount of blood 9the hematocrit), and the amount of hemoglobin (protein in the red cells that carries oxygen to the tissues) in the samples. A low red blood cell count is called anemia. If you are anemic, your body cells may not receive an adequate supply of oxygen. Common causes of anemia are loss of blood or lack of iron in the diet, but it may also be caused by a malfunction of the bone marrow that produces the cells or an increased rate of destruction of the red cells. These normally survive for about four months before being broken down.
The technicians also look at the white cells. Although there is only one variety of red blood cells, there are several different types of white blood cells. They are one of the main body defenses against infection and disease. An increase in the number of normal white cells is often seen if the body is fighting an infection such as appendicitis or pneumonia. Although a normal white blood count (WBC) would not exclude the condition, it would make it less likely. An excessive number of abnormal white cells may indicate leukemia.
The technicians also investigate the blood's ability to clot. If there is a break in a blood vessel wall, it is plugged by small components in the blood known as platelets, which release a chemical and start the process of clotting. A platelet count is part of the automated CBC now used universally.
Continuous Flow Analysis. Another test that requires a blood sample is run on a machine called a continuous flow analyzer. With barely half an ounce of blood, the technicians can run 12 to 20 different tests at appreciably less cost than if the various chemical tests were ordered individually. Several body functions are screened, and if a result is abnormal, it may provide a useful clue to some disorder or condition. Sometimes, the routine screening picks up an elevation of blood sugar long before any symptoms of diabetes have developed. Although no treatment is needed, the patient can be advised to alter his or her diet.
Blood Clotting Tests. In addition to the many blood tests used to help in diagnosis, there are other tests which are used to gauge the severity of a disease or the effectiveness of treatment. For instance, the victim of a heart attack has daily blood tests run to measure the level of chemicals released from damaged or dead heart cells. The more extensive the damage, the higher the proportion of chemicals in the bloodstream.
Some conditions, for instance thrombophlebitis, are treated with agents to slow down the rate of clotting. Tests are run daily while medication is given to ensure that the interference with the clotting is not too great.
Frequent drawing of blood can be tedious for the patient. But it makes everything more interesting if you ask the technician what the tests are for. The technician may welcome the chance to explain. Remember, he or she cannot tell you why a test has been ordered or talk about the result. This is the job of your physician.
Hospitalization - Admission Procedures
The procedures you follow on admission to a hospital vary from one hospital to another, but basically the process is the same in most institutions in the United States.
Care of the Dying - Reaction of Children
A child's reaction to death depends on many factors. A child's first experience with death is often the death of a pet. A child under the age of eight cannot understand that death is irreversible and may expect the mother or father to bring the pet back to life. After the age of eight or nine, the child's understanding is usually as rational as an adult's understanding.
Care of the Dying - Moment of Death
Do not be alarmed if the patient's breathing makes a groaning or croaking sound. It does not mean that he or she is in pain. When a dying patient slips into a coma, the position of the neck and body produces the noise, which can be reduced by gently turning the patient's shoulders or body.
