Which statement describes the pattern for Hgb, BUN, creatinine, and Hct in bowel obstruction?

Which statement describes the pattern for Hgb, BUN, creatinine, and Hct in bowel obstruction?

• A. Decreased
• B. Elevated
• C. Unchanged
• D. Variable

Answer: (B)

Volume depletion from bowel obstruction concentrates the blood and reduces renal perfusion, so these values tend to rise together. When the patient becomes dehydrated from vomiting and reduced oral intake, plasma volume decreases, which concentrates red blood cells—raising hemoglobin and hematocrit. At the same time, reduced kidney perfusion signals prerenal azotemia, causing both BUN and creatinine to increase. BUN often increases more than creatinine, but both rise in this scenario, leading to an overall pattern of elevated values across all four measurements. The other patterns don’t fit because dehydration-induced hemoconcentration and prerenal changes push these labs upward rather than downward or staying the same.

Volume depletion from bowel obstruction concentrates the blood and reduces renal perfusion, so these values tend to rise together. When the patient becomes dehydrated from vomiting and reduced oral intake, plasma volume decreases, which concentrates red blood cells—raising hemoglobin and hematocrit. At the same time, reduced kidney perfusion signals prerenal azotemia, causing both BUN and creatinine to increase. BUN often increases more than creatinine, but both rise in this scenario, leading to an overall pattern of elevated values across all four measurements. The other patterns don’t fit because dehydration-induced hemoconcentration and prerenal changes push these labs upward rather than downward or staying the same.