SLP 502 Lab Values Flashcards
T/F: we can diagnose based on lab values
False
Patient presents with high sodium levels; what is this called?
Hypernatremia
Sodium and Potassium labs show us what?
Dehydration
T/F: we can diagnose dehydration
False
High WBC count can show us what?
Infection
Complete Blood Count provides values for:
Red blood cell count, hematocrit, hemoglobin
RBC count is a reflection of what?
blood’s capacity to carry O2 and nutrients through the body
A low RBC count may present as
anemia, decreased endurance, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, dyspnea
A high RBC count may present as
dehydration, increased risk of stroke, dizziness, burred vision, confusions
What is hematocrit?
the percentage of red blood cell count in the total blood volume
hematocrit assists in the diagnosis of…
anemia and polycythemia
What is polycythemia?
a condition that results in an increased level of RBC in the blood stream
What is anemia?
a condition that results when blood lacks enough healthy RBC
If a patient has a hematocrit value of less than 25%, what happens
all therapy will be deferred due to fatigue
high hematocrit levels may present as
dehydration, congenital heart disease
low hematocrit levels may present as
overhydration, malnutrition, weakness, fatigue, dyspnea
what is hemoglobin
a protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs and tissues and then carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs, they are attached to RBC
most of the body’s ____ is found in hemoglobin
iron
if the patient has a hemoglobin value of less than ___ g/dL, all therapy should be deferred
8
high hemoglobin may present as
dehydration, congenital heart disease, congenital heart failure
low hemoglobin may present as
anemia, malnutrition, sickle cell, kidney disease
RBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin are influenced by…
blood loss, malnutrition (B12), chronic disease
why do we care about RBC?
reduction in RBC is due to loss of red blood cells; GI bleeds, anemia, increased risk of cognitive decline
WBCs are an important part of the _______ system
immune
what do WBC do?
they help find and fight infections
where do WBCs originate in the _____
bone marrow
which WBC types are important for dysphagia
neutrophils
what are the 5 major types of WBCs?
lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes, and basophils
list the functions of the 5 major types of WBCs
lymphocytes- made up of B cells and T cells
eosinophils- destroy invading germs, play an important role in inflammatory allergic response
neutrophils- first responders to acute infections and present in the oral cavity
monocytes- fight infections, remove damaged tissue, destroy cancer cells
basophils- prevent blood clotting
what does a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) include
sodium, potassium, chloride, albumin, pre-albumin, creatinine, blood area nitrogen (BUN), CO2, glucose
what is the most common protein found in the blood?
albumin
what does albumin do?
provides the body with the protein needed to both maintain growth and repair tissues; often used to evaluate a patient’s overall health
pre-albumin is a lab value that is frequently used to _________
monitor nutritional status
why should we care about the comprehensive metabolic profile?
electrolytes are most often looked at as indicators oh hyfration status
what is creatinine
a chemical waste molecule, generated from muscle metabolism
where do kidneys dispose of creatinine?
urine
what is blood urine nitrogen (BUN)
a blood test to determine how well a patient’s kidneys are functioning. This is not routinely taken unless HBP or Type II diabetes
what signs and symptoms of increased BUN levels are relevant to dysphagia?
impaired taste and loss of appetite
dehydration can artificially increase
albumin, RBC count, sodium, chloride, potassium
high potassium may present as
HBP, respiratory arrest, ataxia, confusion, dehydration
low potassium may present as
malnutrition, weakness, confusion
high sodium may present as
dehydration, mental status change, confusion
low sodium may present as
overhydration, starvation
what does chloride do
assists in maintaining hydration, aids in acid/base balance, facilitates the exchange of O2 and CO2 in RBC
high chloride may present as
dehydration, weakness, lethargy, rapid breathing
low chloride may present as
muscle weakness, pneumonia, shallow breathing
what is SpO2
as estimate of the amount of oxygen in the blood- we won’t work with them if this is low
low SpO2 would indicate…
poor oxygen flow
who tends to have low SpO2 levels
aspirators
why would SpO2 occur during a swallow eval
positioning of patient, physical exertion of completing a full meal, feeding themselves, underlying disease processes
T/F: SpO2 does not appear to be a clinically relevant marker of aspiration
true
