A physician orders pre-op blood work to make sure that the patient's potassium level is not too low for surgery, which could cause arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. Without the knowledge of the physician, the patient actually has a potassium level that disqualifies him as a candidate for surgery. The phlebotomist draws the tubes, filling the lavender-top tube before the serum tube. The laboratory tests the specimen, unaware that it has been cross-contaminated, reports out a normal potassium level. The physician reviews the result and takes the patient to surgery. During the procedure, the patient goes into cardiac arrest and dies on the table. What are the possible errors that the phlebotomist committed? What are the possible causes of the erroneous result?
A physician orders pre-op blood work to make sure that the patient's potassium level is not too low for surgery, which could cause arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. Without the knowledge of the physician, the patient actually has a potassium level that disqualifies him as a candidate for surgery. The phlebotomist draws the tubes, filling the lavender-top tube before the serum tube. The laboratory tests the specimen, unaware that it has been cross-contaminated, reports out a normal potassium level. The physician reviews the result and takes the patient to surgery. During the procedure, the patient goes into cardiac arrest and dies on the table. What are the possible errors that the phlebotomist committed? What are the possible causes of the erroneous result?
Biochemistry
9th Edition
ISBN:9781319114671
Author:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
Publisher:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
Chapter1: Biochemistry: An Evolving Science
Section: Chapter Questions
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A physician orders pre-op blood work to make sure that the patient's potassium level is not too low for surgery, which could cause arrhythmia or cardiac arrest. Without the knowledge of the physician, the patient actually has a potassium level that disqualifies him as a candidate for surgery. The phlebotomist draws the tubes, filling the lavender-top tube before the serum tube. The laboratory tests the specimen, unaware that it has been cross-contaminated, reports out a normal potassium level. The physician reviews the result and takes the patient to surgery. During the procedure, the patient goes into cardiac arrest and dies on the table.
What are the possible errors that the phlebotomist committed?
What are the possible causes of the erroneous result?
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