Wound lab values Flashcards
complete blood count
Common lab panel
Information on blood cells and oxygen carrying capacity
RBC - anemia
Hemoglobin - anemia
Hematocrit - anemia
White blood cells - infection
Platelet count
Clinical cluster for anemia
RBC
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
decreased
hemoglobin normal range
14 to 17 g/dL males
12 to 16 g/dL females
high white blood cell count
Infection or significant inflammation
low platelet count
Reduce ability to clot or risk of bleeding
high platelet count
Infection or significant inflammation
erythrocyte sedimentation rate
nonspecific test for inflammatory disorders
May indicate cancer autoimmune disease or infection
Assess how quickly RBCs sink to the bottom of a test solution containing anticoagulated blood
c reactive protein
Used to detect early wound infections, inflammatory, bowel disease, auto immune conditions, and monitor response to anti-inflammatory treatments
Normally low within the blood, it is released by the liver in response to inflammation
Basic metabolic panel
provides insight into the bodies, chemical balance and metabolism, including health of the kidneys and liver
Glucose
BUN
Creatinine
glucose
Increased levels impairs healing >200
normal- <100
diabetes- >126
High glucose values
Impaired healing and risk of infection or abscess
spikes in glucose values
May indicate stress or infection
increased levels of BUN/ creatinine
impairs healing and increased edema
May note jaundice skin or sclera of eyes
Low levels of protein
Impaired healing and lack of granulation tissue development
Values of nutritional protein markers
total protein
Albumin
Prealbumin
Low levels of albumin
Result in edema
pre albumin indicates
Sensitive indicator due to short half-life
prothrombin time
Normal 11 to 13 seconds
Increased greater than 2.5 times the reference range results easy bleeding, and decreased ability to clot
INR
normal-0.8-1.2
therapeutic range 2-3
Elevated levels greater than three - more likely to bleed with reduced hemostasis
Depressed levels less than two - more likely to risk of DVT
platelet count
Low levels equals more likely to bleed with reduced hemostasis
Three types of cultures
tissue biopsy
Needle aspiration
Swab culture
tissue biopsy
Removal of rolling tissue with a scalpel or punch biopsy
Not within the physical therapy, scope of practice
Greater accuracy determining the bacterial source
Needle aspiration
needle is inserted into the wound tissue to aspirate fluid
Not within our scope of practice
Greater accuracy in determining the bacterial source
Swab culture
Cotton tip swap is used to collect fluid material
Within physical therapy, scope of practice
Less accurate and determining the bacterial source more likely to obtain surface contaminants
quantitative swab culture- Levine technique
Cleanse the world with sterile saline
Locate area within the wound which has healthy tissue
Rotate the cotton tipped applicator within 1 cm area
Rotation press into bed to extract fluid
