Question

26 LABORATORY EXERCISES FOR COMPETENCY IN RESPIRATORY CARE 7. You are working in the special care nursery. Orders for capillary blood gas sampling have been written for several patients. Describe why these orders are contraindicated for the following patients A. A 24-week-old neonate born 6 hours ago B. A 32-week-old hypotensive neonate born 2 weeks ago A 28-week-old neonate with documented polycythemia for 4 days C. A 36-week-old neonate born 2 days prior with cyanotic hands and feet D. E. A 42-week-old infant in renal failure with swollen hands and feet When using the heel to draw a capillary blood gas why is it so important not to squeeze the foot after the heel 8. puncture?

help please

Answer 1

7. Contraindication:

A. Puncturing for a capillary blood sample in the premature neonates leads to infection and inflammation of heel bone and osteomyelitis as a result of a calcaneal puncture.

B. The hypotensive newborn has poor perfusion of blood which interferes with the capillary blood gas analyses. Capillary blood sampling leads to hypoxia in this neonate.

C. Polycythemia is the increased red cell level in the blood. This makes the blood thicker that contraindicate the capillary blood gas analysis which leads to blood clots as a result of faster clotting.

D. In cyanosis, the tissues are poorly perfused which is difficult to collect a blood sample from the capillary. This further leads to hypoxia and distortion in the blood results.

E. Presence of swelling leads to contamination of blood samples due to the accumulation of fluid which results in inaccurate results.

8. Do not squeeze the heel after puncturing because it causes pain, and tissue damage. Squeezing of heel leads to hemolysis and inaccurate results.