May 17, 2023

Total Bilirubin (T. Billi) Lab Values

3 minutes

Overview

Total bilirubin
1. Normal Value Range
2. Pathophysiology
3. Special considerations
4. Elevations in Total bilirubin

Nursing Points General

Normal values
1. 0.1-1.2 mg/dL
Patho
1. Breakdown product of RBCs
  1. Specifically heme (iron portion of hemoglobin)
2. Transported to liver
  1. Bound with bile
  2. Excreted via GI tract and kidneys
3. Conjugated
  1. Water soluble
4. Unconjugated
  1. Not able to excrete it
  2. Carried to liver via albumin
  3. Conjugated in liver
Special Considerations
1. Submit in green top tube
2. Usually submitted with liver function tests
Elevated Total Bilirubin
1. Newborn jaundice
  1. Treated with phototherapy
  2. Liver tumors
  3. Liver disease
    1. Cirrhosis
    2. Hepatitis
    3. Alcoholism
  4. Cholecystitis
  5. Biliary obstruction

Assessment

Assess patients for jaundice or icterus, or changes in color of stool (clay colored)

Therapeutic Management

Nursing Concepts

...more

By Jon Haws RN: Critical Care Nurse & NCLEX Educator

4.3

127127 ratings

May 17, 2023

3 minutes

Overview

Total bilirubin
1. Normal Value Range
2. Pathophysiology
3. Special considerations
4. Elevations in Total bilirubin

Nursing Points General

Normal values
1. 0.1-1.2 mg/dL
Patho
1. Breakdown product of RBCs
  1. Specifically heme (iron portion of hemoglobin)
2. Transported to liver
  1. Bound with bile
  2. Excreted via GI tract and kidneys
3. Conjugated
  1. Water soluble
4. Unconjugated
  1. Not able to excrete it
  2. Carried to liver via albumin
  3. Conjugated in liver
Special Considerations
1. Submit in green top tube
2. Usually submitted with liver function tests
Elevated Total Bilirubin
1. Newborn jaundice
  1. Treated with phototherapy
  2. Liver tumors
  3. Liver disease
    1. Cirrhosis
    2. Hepatitis
    3. Alcoholism
  4. Cholecystitis
  5. Biliary obstruction