Class Set- Please Do Not Write On This

Cellular Diagnosis

IntroductionFollowing the Seattle Marathon, runner Mary O. Thon, age 32 an amateur

athlete, is admitted to Seattle Grace Hospital with dehydration symptoms: dizziness, confusion, vomiting, headache, and abdominal cramping.

Several attempts of oral rehydration solutions containing water and electrolytes were administered but failed, due to the patient’s constant vomiting. Dr. Meredith Grey then ordered an intravenous (IV) fluid drip of isotonic normal saline, 0.9% NaCl (salt) which is commonly used to treat dehydration.

After several hours, the patient’s conditioning is worsening. Her heart rate has increased and she complains of breathing difficulty. Most of the initial dehydration symptoms continue as well. A blood test is sent to the lab and it is realized that the wrong IV was given- she was mistakenly receiving a 3% NaCl saline solution.

Performance TaskYour job as the biochemist on staff is to write a medical examiner’s report of your findings to present to Dr. Grey. Your report should include the following information:

Drawings showing the movement of water due to osmosis through body cells and blood vessel walls for both types of IV solutions: Isotonic Normal Saline (0.9% NaCl) AND 3% NaCl Saline

1. Label the net movement of water into/out of each of these spaces2. Label the solute concentration in each of these spaces

Explain in words the cause of the symptoms created by administering the 3% saline solution. Be sure to include what is happening to the patient’s body cells and blood volume due to the movement of water. Is this solution hypertonic or hypotonic?

Fill out the Medical Examiner Report (attached)

Note: Your drawings and explanation should be referring to the movement of water across the blood vessel walls into surrounding body cells (not red blood cells).

Medical Examiner ReportSeattle Grace Hospital140 4th Avenue NSeattle, WA 98109

Patient Name: Age Gender

Referring Doctor: Report Prepared by:

1. Using arrows, label the net movement of water into or out of each of these spaces.

2. Label the solute and solvent concentrations in each of these spaces.

Test ResultsDrawing of Normal Body Cells when Blood Vessel IV solution is 0.9% Saline

Drawing of Test Results: Body Cells when blood vessel IV solution is 3% Saline

Explain in words the cause of the symptoms created by administering the 3% saline solution. Be sure to include what is happening to the patient’s body cells (cytolysis or plasmolysis) and blood volume due to the movement of water. Is this solution hypertonic or hypotonic?

Explanation of Worsening Symptoms on a Cellular Level

CELLCELL

Medical Examiner ReportSeattle Grace Hospital140 4th Avenue NSeattle, WA 98109

Patient NameMary O. Thon

Age32

GenderFemale

Referring DoctorDr. Meredith Grey

Test Request Date

Report Prepared byStudent name here

Report Completed Date

Name of Test Performed Blood Test

Test Results

Drawing of Normal Body Cells when Blood Vessel IV solution is 0.9% Saline

Drawing of Test Results: Body Cells when blood vessel IV solution is 3% Saline

Explanation of Worsening Symptoms on a Cellular Level

3% saline solution is a hypertonic environment compared to the surrounding solute concentration of body cells. Therefore, the net movement of water due to osmosis is from the body cells into the blood vessels. This increases the blood volume, but further dehydrates the body cells. Symptoms of increased heart rate

KEY

and difficulty breathing are because of the increased blood volume. The other dehydration symptoms persist because body cells are still dehydrated.

Report Prepared By (Signature)