Answer 3

  1. The patient is experiencing ischemic acute tubular necrosis. The toxic form of acute tubular necrosis is caused by nephrotoxic agents such as drugs and toxins. The ischemic form is caused by sepsis, shock, or trauma. The 60-year-old man received a blood transfusion as a result of a car accident. Thus, he experienced trauma and the reaction to the blood transfusion caused him to experience a septic shock which is characterized by dizziness, fever, and chills. Acute tubular necrosis is characterized by oliguria, a slightly cloudy urine appearance, and the presence of RBC, WBC, renal epithelial cells, and granular casts in the urine. The patient exhibits all of these signs. Patients with acute tubular necrosis may also have protein in their urine as well as a low specific gravity (as seen with this patient).

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References: Brunzel, Nancy A. Fundamentals of Urine & Body Fluid Analysis. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2004: 253-254.

Finnegan, Kathleen. Correlating Routine Urinalysis with Selected Kidney Disorders. Advance. 1989; 18-20.

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