Acute Blood Loss (& type of Anemia)

Acute blood loss → Normocytic anemia
  • May take weeks for iron-deficient microcytes
Source of blood loss usually obvious
  • Inquire re: melena
  • Reticulocytes increased: 3% – 5%   (if no anemia: ≤1%)
No Anemia in first 24-36 hours of Acute Hemorrhage
  • Body needs to hemodilute vascular space for H&H to drop
  • In ER: Rx 2L NS IV & repeat H&H for extent of blood loss

See posting Anemia – 3.