Question

question 1-1
in an emergency trauma room, a doctor accidentally gives a patient a large transfusion of distilled water directly into one of his veins instead of blood. predict what might happen if distilled water was given to the patient instead of blood.

• have serious, perhaps fatal effects because the red blood cells would tend to shrivel
• have serious, perhaps fatal effects because there would be too much fluid for the heart to pump
• have serious, perhaps fatal effects because the red blood cells would tend to burst
• have no unfavorable effect as long as the water was sterile

Explanation:

Distilled water is hypotonic compared to the intracellular fluid of red - blood cells. Water will move into the red - blood cells by osmosis, causing them to swell and potentially burst (hemolysis), which can have serious or fatal effects.

Answer:

have serious, perhaps fatal effects because the red blood cells would tend to burst