Final answer:
If red blood cells are placed in a hypotonic solution, they undergo hemolysis and may burst due to water rushing in. An injected solution that causes destruction of RBCs likely wasn't isotonic; a proper isotonic saline solution is generally 0.9% m/v NaCl. Correct IV solution preparation is essential to avoid cellular damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
When red blood cells (RBCs) are placed in a solution with a different osmolarity than their internal environment, they will either swell or shrink due to osmosis. If the external solution is pure water, meaning it is hypotonic as it has a lower solute concentration than the RBCs, water rushes into the cells, causing them to swell and potentially undergo hemolysis—where they burst due to the increased volume. On the contrary, if red blood cells are placed in a hypertonic solution, they will shrink, a condition referred to as crenation. An isotonic saline solution, typically at 0.9% m/v NaCl, is used to prevent these occurrences because it closely matches the osmolarity of blood.
Considering the case where a doctor injects what is believed to be an isotonic solution but the patient dies with many RBCs destroyed, it is highly likely that the solution was not truly isotonic. The destruction of red blood cells suggests that the solution might have been hypotonic, leading to hemolysis. In medical practice, it's crucial that IV solutions match the osmolarity of blood to prevent cell damage.
The correct preparation and administration of IV solutions are vital to patient health. In hypothetical scenarios such as preparing an IV of 0.09%, one must ensure that the concentration is correct to avoid any possible cellular damage. A 0.09% IV solution would be hypotonic since typical isotonic solutions are at least 0.9%, and could potentially lead to hemolysis of RBCs.