A better deck of flash card on electrolytes
what is the most abundant intracellular cation?
Potassium
what are functions of potassium
allows transmission of electrical impulses, helps impulses flow smoothly, w/o potassium things slow down. too much and muscle get hyperactive
what systems does potassium directly affect
the heart, GI tract, MS system.
Acid base balance - trades places with hydrogen ions to balance charges
0.1 decrease in in pH - a 0.5 increase in K
hypokalemia
think low and slow! less than 3.5.
the heart has flattened T waves and prominant U, waves. orthostatic hypotension, weak thready pulse, dysarythmias,
muscular cramping, flaccid paralysis, hyporeflexia, muscle weakness.
neuro changes - include altered mental status, letharfy, decreased LOC
Gi symptoms - hypoactive bowel sounds, constipation, andominal distention, paralytic ileus, can lead to small bowel obstructions
therapeutic management of hypokalemia
prevent more loss with IV K or PO K - REPLACE SLOWLY
switch diuretics - no loops diuretics or thiazides
eat k rich foods such as banans, kale, melons
cardiac monitor
assess respiratory function, can cause respiratory depression.
hyperkalemia
> 5 think fast!
CV = bradycardia, hypotension
EKG = tall peaked T-waves, prolonged PR intervals, Wide QRS, heart block, asystole, Vfib,
MS = twitching, numbness, weakness
GI - hyperactive bowel sounds, spastic colon, diarrhea.
therapeutic management of hyperkalemia
potassium decreasing meds = kayexelate
K-wasting diuretics, insulin and D50, albuterol, bicarb, calcium gluconate.
cardiac monitoring
k restricted diet
salt substitues should have potassium in them
dailysis
sodium!
the most abundant ECF cation
it controls fluid distribution between the ICF and ECF
normal levels is 135meq/l - 145meq/l
sodium is a real muscle mommy
she is everyone’s best friend.
she controls fluids between the ECF and ICF
inside our vessel we have solvent, and we have sodium. sodium is the solute. sodium will always try to perfectly dissolve solute and solvent while being balanced. thats where osmolarity of blood comes from
if there is a bunch of fluid outside the cell, sodium leaves the cell to help the balance. if theres a lot of solute concentration in the cell then sodium will bust her ass in to the cell to balance that out.
main functions of sodium
most abundant ECF cation
balances osmolarity
muscle contraction
nerve impulses
hyponatremia causes
(actual loss of Na)
<135meq/l
sweating
wound drainage
low Na diet
diuretics ( thiazide and loop)
hypoaldosternism
hyponatremia causes
(increase in fluids like h2o)
SIADH
water intoxication
freshwater submersion
insatiable thirst
hypotonic fluids
hypernatremia
(actual increase in Na)
steroids
oral ingestion
table salt
hypertonic saline (1.5%, 3%, 5%)
cushings syndrome
hypernatremia
(relative fluid loss)
NPO
fever
hyperventilation
dehydration
infection
assessment of hyponatremia
N - behavior changes , increased intracranial pressure, cerebral edema, seizures
ms - weaknes (resp muscles) deacreased DTRs
GI - motility, NVD, stomach cramps,
CV - hypovolemia - weak pulse, tachycardia, hypotension, dizziness,
hypervolemia - bounding pulses, high bp.
hypernetremia
N - cellular dehydration in brain cells
hypovolemic - irritable, confused, manic, cranky
hypervolemic - lethargic, drowsy, stupor, coma,
MS - muscle twitching cramps, weakness,
CV - heart contraction deacreases
hypovolemic - deacreased BP, weak pulses
hypervolemic - increased BP, JVD, bounding pulses
extreme thirst
dry mucous membranes
dry/hot skin
therapeutic management with hyponatremia
replace fluid slowly
prevent pontine myelionolysis
neuro damage by over correction
locked in syndrome
increase sodium level by 0.5meq/hr - go slow
drugs:
stop Na wasting diuretics
IV 0.9% NaCl if hypovolemic
hypertonic saline 3%
osmotic diuretics
lose h20 not Na
increase sodium intake
free water restriction
therapeutic management of hypernatremia
often caused by steroids
bring levels down slowly
hypotonic fluids - 1/2 NS, D5W
if hypervolemic give Na wasting diuretics
get dietician in there
Na restriction
increase free water.
calcium !
8.6 - 10.4 mg/dl cation
main functions:
stored mostly in bones
mineralizes bones and keeps them hard
helps nerve impulses and in muscle contraction
activates actin and myosin
neuromuscular processes
coagulation
controlled by pth and thyroid hormone and vitamin D
inverse relationship with phosphorous - when calcium is low phosphorous is high
causes of hypocalcemia
<8.6mg/dl
renal failure
malnutrition/malabsorption
alcoholism
defficiency in albumin, Mg, or vitamin D
vitamin D is required for absorption of calcium in the gut
hypoparathyroidism
hyperphosphatemia