Haematopoietic System Disease Flashcards
what is the haematopoietic system?
It consists of the bone marrow and the cells it produces
- plasma
- red blood cells
- white blood cells
- platelets
what is haemopoiesis
blood cells are produced from bone marrow
the spleen and liver can also take part in production when there is a high demand for blood cells
what is anaemia?
types and their causes? signs and diagnostics?
a deficiency in the number or quality of red blood cells
- it isn’t a disease but a sign something is wrong
non-regenerative - healthy bone marrow tries to correct
- blood loss - trauma or coagulopathy
- blood cells burst - eg infection or toxins
regenerative - bone marrow fails to respond
- disorders of bone marrow
- suppression of bone marrow
- acute bleeding - had no time to correct
- eaten toxins
signs
- collapse/lethargy/inactive
- pale MMs
- dyspnoea or tachypnoea
- tachycardia
diagnostics
- history - energy/DUDE/medications/scavenger/travelled
- bloods - haem and biochem, PCV, blood smear
- x-rays/ultrasound - internal bleeding
- bone marrow biopsy
treatment
- blood transfusion, IVFT and oxygen therapy
- treat the underlying disease
- monitor vitals - eg arrhythmias - esp if transfusion
- restrict exercise and excitement/stress
- offer palatable foods
- keeping clean and comfortable
what is the difference between primary and secondary haemostasis?
primary
- reflex constriction of the blood vessel and formation of a platelet plug
secondary
- activation of clotting factors, plasma proteins produced by the liver
- stabilisation of the platelet plug
reasons for platelet disorders?
congenital
- disorders of bone marrow
- immune response attacking platelets
acquired
- bone marrow tumour
- suppression of bone marrow
- haemorrhage
- drugs - e.g. aspirin
what is disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?
what is it often associated with?
condition that causes abnormal blood clotting through blood vessels
- causes platelet and clotting factors to be used up
- very low prognosis
associated with
- end-stage of sepsis
- some viral infections
- neoplasia
- heat stroke
- liver disease
- IMHA - immune system destroys own RBCs
what are clotting disorders?
types and their signs and causes?
when the body cant make enough cells and proteins needed to clot blood
- plasma proteins and clotting factors
primary haemostatic
signs
- small and large bruises in multiple sites
- prolonged bleeding
- venepuncture bleeding common
- surface bleeding common - MMs/skin
- epistaxis
causes
- vessel wall defects
- von Willebrand disease
- disorders of platelets
secondary haemostatic
signs
- haematomas common
- often localised site of bleeding
- rebleeding from cuts
- deep and cavity bleeds common - eg joints, abdomen or thoracic cavities
causes
- disorders of clotting factors or plasma proteins
- genetic disorders - eg haemophilia
- lack of vit k or calcium
- liver disease
- toxicity
diagnostics and nursing care/treatment for clotting disorders?
diagnostics
- history - bleeding/trauma/previous surgery
- urine and faecal analysis - any blood?
- blood tests - haem/biochem, smear, clotting profile
- ultrasound for haemo abdomen/thorax
treatment
- blood or plasma tranfusion
- treat any signs of anaemia
- treat underlying disease (eg vit K/C, lungworm, DIC)
nursing care
- monitor vital signs - ECG, bleeding, mentation
- quiet and gentle handling
- reduce sampling
- blood sample from a peripheral vein
- avoid IM injections
- if congenital then owner education
- offer palatable foods
- keeping clean and comfortable
what is a white blood cell disorders?
causes, signs, diagnostics and treatment/nursing care?
when white blood cells are either low (leukopenia) or high (leukocytosis)
causes:
- genetic
- autoimune disease
- viruses - eg HIV
- cancer - eg leukaemia or lymphoma
- allergic reaction
signs
- poor immune system - frequent infections
- weight loss/anorexia/inappetence
- v+ and d+
- clotting disorders
diagnostics
- history - recent illness/infection, medications, change in routine
- examination
- blood testing - haem for WBC count, smear for types
- cytology - FNA or biopsy
- imaging
treatment
- treat underlying disease - eg chemo
- fluid therapy
- treat any secondary infections
nursing care
- monitor vitals - ECG/arrhythmias
- administer chemo under direction
- offer palatable foods
- keeping clean and comfortable
