If a hospital patient is mistakenly administered pure water instead of a saline solution that is isotonic to blood during intravenous (IV) therapy, the patient's red blood cells will

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If a patient is administered pure water instead of an isotonic solution, the red blood cells will absorb water from the plasma through osmosis, causing them to swell and eventually burst (lyse). This is because pure water has a higher concentration of water molecules than the red blood cells do, so water moves into the cells to try to equalize the concentration. The bursting of red blood cells can lead to complications such as hemolysis, anemia, and kidney damage. Therefore, it is critical to administer the correct type of solution during IV therapy to avoid such complications.

If a Hospital Patient Is Mistakenly Administered Pure Water Instead