A nurse working in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit)/recovery room unit is monitoring a patient whose vital signs were stable upon arrival from the operating room. The patient’s temperature began to rise steadily the past 20 minutes and continues to rise, the heart monitor shows sinus tachycardia with a rate of 122, the patient’s blood pressure is 86/42, and pulse ox is 88% on 2 L O2 via nasal cannula.
The nurse suspects which genetic condition?

Splenomegaly and jaundice are signs of hemolytic anemia, a disorder in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are made.

Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen, which may trap and destroy healthy red blood cells. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a waste product of hemoglobin breakdown. Choice A is wrong because red, sore tongue is a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, not hemolytic anemia.

Choice B is wrong because pica is a craving for nonfood items, such as ice, dirt, or starch. It is a sign of iron deficiency anemia, not hemolytic anemia. Choice D is wrong because paresthesias are sensations of tingling, numbness, or prickling in the hands or feet. They are a sign of pernicious anemia, a type of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, not hemolytic anemia.

Normal ranges for red blood cell count are 4.5 to 5.9 million cells per microliter for men and 4.1 to 5.1 million cells per microliter for women. Normal ranges for hemoglobin are 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men and 12.0 to 15.5 gramsper deciliter for women. Normal ranges for bilirubin are 0.1 to 1.2 milligrams per deciliter for adults.

A client with chronic bronchitis is expected to have a cough that produces sputum for at least 3 months during two successive years. This is due to the hyperplasia of mucous glands and bronchial wall inflammation that occur in chronic bronchitis.

Choice A is wrong because SpO2 >92% is not a specific finding for chronic bronchitis.

SpO2 is a measure of oxygen saturation in the blood and can vary depending on many factors, such as altitude, smoking, and lung diseases. SpO2 may be lower than normal in COPD patients due to airflow obstruction and impaired gas exchange.

Choice B is wrong because underweight is not a typical finding for chronic bronchitis.

Underweight may be more associated with emphysema, which is another component of COPD that involves the destruction of alveolar walls and enlargement of air spaces. Emphysema can cause weight loss due to increased work of breathing and decreased appetite.

Choice C is wrong because bradypnea is not a common finding for chronic bronchitis.

Bradypnea is abnormally slow breathing rate and can be caused by various conditions, such as brain injury, drug overdose, or sleep apnea. Chronic bronchitis usually causes tachypnea, which is abnormally fast breathing rate, due to hypoxia and hypercapnia.