• Why does anemia occur during acute and or critical illness of the patient?

Discussion: Anemia

We are going to look deeper into what happens in acute and chronic anemia, the various types, and the work up associated figuring out the issue. Please be sure to engage in deep thought during your readings and try to connect the dots. As you read try to connect to patients you have taken care of before, because I have found this to be the best way to retain information.

Have you ever noticed in the hospital – particularly the ICU – that a significant percentage, and dare I say perhaps even a majority, of patients admitted experience anemia, even when they came in with normal hemoglobins of 12, 13, 14? It is a process not related to any of the ones mentioned in the discussion, so what’s going on here? Remember that patients do not always ‘read the book.’ So sometimes they do not present with every symptom the book says they will, so keep that in mind.

THE ASSIGNMENT QUESTION:

• Post an example of a patient scenario in the hospital setting with diagnosis of anemia with a hemoglobin level of 12.

• Why does anemia occur during acute and or critical illness of the patient?

• What was the work up associated figuring out the patient’s issue?

• Supported your response by at least 2 current, credible sources.