What is the most likely reason that the red blood cell (RBC) count remains elevated in a newborn for the first 2 weeks of life?
a. A relative loss of plasma occurs during the birth process.
b. A significantly longer RBC life span increases the number of red cells in circulation.
c. Partial anoxia exists in utero, and erythropoietin increases.
d. The switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin causes number of red cells to increase.
ANS: C
Partial anoxia occurs in utero, which causes the normal physiologic response to increase erythropoietin, which stimulates erythropoiesis. About 2 weeks after birth, as the infant makes the transition from its placenta-dependent oxygenation to the increased tissue oxygenation of the lungs, erythropoietin decreases, and the red cell count begins to decrease.
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During routine tracheostomy care, for a patient who is ventilator dependent and has had his trach in place for 2 weeks, the trach tube becomes dislodge during an acute coughing episode. The therapist should
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