Anesthesiology Flashcards
Receptor theory of anesthesia
- GABA: major inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Membrane structure and function; future of anesthesiology
- Glutamate: major excitatory neurotransmitter
- Endorphins: analgesia
What needs to be monitored/controlled during closed loop anesthesia?
- Ventilation control
- Hypnosis control
- Nociception control
- Metabolic control
- Temperature control
- Hemodynamic control
- Neuromuscular control
ASA physical status scale
- Normal healthy patient
- 2: Mild systemic disease (no limitation)
- Moderate to severe systemic disease with limitation of function
- Severe systemic disease (threat to life)
- Moribund (in a dying state) patient
- Brain dead patient (organ donation)
Pre- anesthetic plan
- Patient baseline condition and medical history
- Planned procedure
- Drug sensitivities
- Physiological makeup
The main anesthetic plan
- ASA physical status scale
- General vs regional anesthesia
- Airway
- Induction anesthesia to choose
- What to monitor
- Intraoperative management
- Postoperative management
Examples of ventilation management?
- Breathing systems
- Open drop anesthesia
- Mapleson circuits (pediatric anesthesia circuits)
- Anesthesia machines
Functions of the anesthesia machine?
- Recieve medical gases from gas supply
- Permits other gases (anesthetics) only if there is enough oxygen in the mixture
- Vaporizers are agent-specific
- Deliver and control tidal volume
- Wastegas scavenger system
- Regular inspections
Failure of the machine is a significant percentage of the mishaps in anesthesia practice
Ways of airway management and complications:
- Supraglottic device
- Endotracheal intubation: most common and safe protection of airways during anesthesia
Complications:
- Difficulty in managing the airway
- Difficult/traumatic intubation
Types of special airway techniques
- Fiberoptic Retrograde wire intubation
- Transtracheal jet ventilation
- Lighted stylets
- Laryngeal masks
- Combitube
- Surgical airway
Types of patient monitors
Common:
- Arterial BP (obligatory)
- ECG (obligatory)
- Pulsoxymetry (obligatory)
- Capnometry
- CVP (Central Venous Pressure) & PAC (Pulmonary Artery Catheter)
Less Common: EEG with BIS (bi-spectral index), Temperature, Nerve stimulation
Why monitor Arterial BP?
- Obligatory!
- Direct BP measured using arterial canule
- Helps monitor effectiveness of chest compressions during CPR
Why monitor ECG?
- Obligatory!
- 12 lead ECG is preferred (but not necessary)
- Helps monitor heart rate as well
Why monitor CVP (Central Venous Pressure)?
- Important for monitoring circulatory system
- Obligatory in cardiac procedures
- Monitored by inserting Central Venous Catheter into right atrium
- Normal central venous pressure is between 2-5 mmHg
Functions of a PAC (Pulmonary Artery Catheter)?
Also called Swan-Ganz catheter
- Measures pressure in right ventricle (20-25mmHg) -
- Measures pressure in pulmonary artery (10-25 mmHg) -
- Measures cardiac output - Monitor function of left ventricle
What complicates monitoring LV function using PVC?
When there is a high pulmonary resistance, the function of LV is harder to assess
How do we measure cardiac output using PVC?
By injecting cold saline into the catheter and measure how long it takes before the temperature changes at the end of the catheter
- CVP -1 to 1
- HR 80
- Systolic BP 100 mmHg
What do you suspect?
Hypovolemic shock
Capnomatry: What is it used for, normal/abnormal values?
- Measures exhaled CO2 from the body
- Most important parameter to be monitored during anesthesia because it reflects the effect of BOTH the respiratory and the circulatory system (used during CPR)
- Normal value: 30-35 mmHg
- May fall to 15 mmHg in resucitation, if as low as 10 or below = poor prognosis
What is BIS (bi-spectral index)?
An algorithm used to inturpret conciousness based on EEG results:
- 100%: conscious patient
- 80% = premedicated
- 60% = Anesthesia
If it remains around 60, the patient is in deep anesthesia
Indications for temperature monitoring in surgery:
- Surface temperature is important in long surgeries
- Esophageal temperature in thorax and abdominal operations
Indication of nerve simulation in surgery:
Gives you an idea of how much neuromuscular relaxants the patients need.
Definition of General Anasthesia
A reversible state of CNS depression, resulting in loss of response to and perception of external stimuli
Why do we use preanestethic medications?
They lower the dose of anesthetic required to maintain desired level of surgical anesthesia
Preanesthetic medications which can be used:
- H2-blockers: Famotidine/Ranitidine Reduce gastric acidity
- Benzodiazepines: Alprazolam/Midazolam Relieve anxiety and facilitate amnesia
- Opioids: Fentanyl Reduce postoperative pain
- Antihistamines: Diphenhydramine Avoid allergic reactions
- Antiemetics: Odansetron Prevents nausea and aspiration of stomach contents
- Anticholinergics: Glycopyrolate Prevent bradycardia and secretion of fluids into the respiratory tract
Stages and depth of anesthesia
- Loss of pain sensation
- Combative behaviour
- Surgical anesthesia
- Medullary paralysis and death
Modern Inhaled Anesthetics:
What are they?
What are they used for?
- They are volatile, halogenated hydrocarbons (exception: N2O)
- They are used primarily for the maintenance of anesthesia after administration of an i.v agent.
Advantage of inhaled anesthetics
The depth of anesthesia can be rapidly altered.
Disadvantage of inhaled anesthetics
They have a very narrow therapeutic index (from 2-4)
4 factors that influence inhalation anesthetic uptake:
- Solubility in blood
- Lipid solubility
- Alveolar blood flow
- Difference in partial pressure between alveolar gas and venous blood
What is Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC)?
The concentration of inhaled anesthetics in the alveoli which prevents movement in 50% of patients in response to a standardized stimulus. Potent anesthetic = small MAC Weak anesthetic = large MAC
Factors that DECREASE MAC:
- Increased age
- Hypothermia
- Pregnancy
- Sepsis
- Acute ethanol poisoning
- Concurrent administration of i.v anesthetics
- a2-adrenergic agonists (e.g clonidine).
Factors that INCREASE MAC:
- Hyperthermia (>42C degrees)
- Drugs that increase CNS catecholamines
- Chronic ethanol abuse.
Contraindications of volatile inhaled anesthetics:
- Severe hypovolemia
- Malignant hyperthermia
- Intracranial hypertension
5 inhalational drugs used:
- Nitrous Oxide (MAC: 105%)
- Desflurane (MAC: 6%)
- Sevoflurane (MAC: 2%)
- Isoflurane (MAC: 1.2%)
- Halothane (MAC: 0.75%)
Nitrous Oxide, mechanism of action?
It’s an NMDA receptor antagonist
Nitrous Oxide, function:
- Used for anesthesia in dentistry
- Depresses myocardial contractility but stimulates sympathetic nervous system
- Dilates coronary arteries
- Does NOT relax muscles, unlike the other inhalation anesthetics
- Decreases renal blood flow –> decreased urinary output
Nitrous Oxide, other effects:
- Analgesia
- Depersonalisation
- Derealistation
- Dizziness
- Euphoria
- Sound distortion
Side effects of Nitrous Oxide:
Mainly due to long-term exposure
- Reproductive side effects i pregnant females
- Bone-marrow depression (megaloblastic anemia)
- Peripheral neuropathies
Halothane, function:
- Used for inhalation induction
- Direct myocardial depression: lowers blood pressure and cardiact output
- Lowers cerebral vascular resistance, increases cerebral blood flow
- Reduces renal blood flow –> decreased urinary output
- Causes rapid, shallow breathing
- Potent bronchodilator
Side effects with Halothane:
- Sensitizes the heart to arrythmogenic effects of sympathomimetic agents (e.g epinephrine dosage, etc…)
- Depresses clearance of respiratory tract mucus = promotes postop hypoxia and atelectasis
- Postoperative hepatitis –> centrilobular necrosis
- Intracranial hypertension in patients with intracranial mass (increased cerebral blood flow)
Isoflurane is often used for
potentiation of nondepolarizing Neuro-Muscular Blockers
Isoflurane, effects:
- Decreases systemic vascular resistance –> increased skeletal muscle flow & low BP
- Partial preservation of carotid baroreflex –> increased HR –> increased cardiac output
- Decreased renal blood flow –> decreased urinary output
- Dilates coronary arteries (not as much as N2O) (Tachypnea, but less prominent than other anesthetics = less prominent fall in minute ventilation)
Desflurane, characteristics:
- Los solubility in the blood –> quick induction and emergence
- Ultrashort duration of action
- Moderate potency
- Dosage often adjusted based on peripheral nerve stimulation (increased stimuli –> decrease the dosage)
Desflurane, other effects:
- Increased dose –> fall in SVR –> fall in blood pressure
- Decreases tidal volume and increases respiratory rate
Sevoflurane, functions:
- Useful in pediatric patients as induction (quick induction, 1 min)
- SVR and BP decreases slightly less than with isoflurane or desflurane
- May prolong QT-interval
- Depresses respiration and reverses bronchospasm smilar to isoflurane
How is Sevoflurane given (mixture)?
Inhalation induction with 4-8% Sevoflurane in a mixture of 50% N2O and O2
Classes of intravenous anesthetics:
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Ketamine
- Etomidate
- Propofol
Barbiturates, function and mechanism:
- Depress the reticular activating system (RAS) in the brainstem, which controls multiple functions, including consciousness
- They bind to GABA type A receptor, and potentiate the action of GABA in increasing the duration of openings of a chloride-specific channel
Benzodiazepines, mechanism:
Binds to allosteric site of the GABA-receptors; increases frequency of openings of the associated chloride ion channel
Antidote of benzodiazepines?
Flumazenil
Ketamine, mechanism of action
NMDA-receptor antagonist + norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
Ketamine, functions:
- Dissociates the thalamus from the limbic cortex (patient is consious, but don’t response to sensory input)
- Has a sympathetic stimulation (useful for hypovolemya or trauma)
- Combined with other agents for deep CONCIOUS sedation (usefull for endoscopy)
Ketamine other effects:
- Hallucinogenic effects (avoid by giving midazolam)
- Increases HR, BP and CO (due to it being NE-reuptake inhibitor)
Etomidate, function
Depresses RAS, mimicks inhibitory effects of GABA
Etomatide, main side effect:
30-60% incidence of myoclonus at induction (cause it partly inhibits extrapyramidal system)
Propofol, functions:
- Induction, produces unconsciousness within 30-40 sec
- Decreases SVR –> decreased BP
Main problem with Propofol formulation:
It’s water-insaluable = need to be emulsified = may support bacterial growth (need to use sterile technique)
Function of Opioids:
Principally used to produce analgesia, although they can give sedation in large doses
Opioids, mechanism of action:
Stimulates opioid-receptors distributed throughout the CNS, especially substantia gelatinosa of spinal cord and periacqueductal grey matter of the midbrain
Opioids, effects:
- CNS: Analgesia, sedation, euphoria, nausea/vomiting, miosis, depressed ventilation (rate more than depth, reduced response to CO2), depression of vasomotor centre
- Respiratory: Antitussive, bronchospasm in some
- Cardiovascular: Peripheral venodilatation, bradycardia (due to vagal stimulation)
- Urinary: Increased sphincter tone, urinary retention
- GIT: Reduced peristalsis –> constipation and delayed gastric emptying, sphincter constriction
- Endocrine: Release of ADH and catecholamines
- Skin: Itching
Transient use of N2O during labour might cause…
…the child to have aplastic anemia.
Why shouldn’t benzodiazepines be used routinely during labour?
Newborns often have temporary hypotonia and thermal irregularaties, benzodiazepines might be too strong for their bodies to handle!
What kind of struggles do we face in anesthesia of geriatric patients?
Physiological changes during aging
- The metabolism/clearance of the drugs get slower
- The effect on the organs get stronger
- Worse self-repair –> high drug-related damage –> more side-effects
- Most geriatric patients present with co-morbidities they have developed over the years –> more side effects
- Most geriatric patients take additional medications for co-morbidities = cross-reaction
Most common complications in preoperative evaluation:
- Difficult airway
- Asthma
- Insulin dependent diabetes
- Drug abuse
- Heart disease
- Pacemakers and defibrillators
- Peripheral motor neuropathy
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary TB
- Renal insufficiency
- Liver insufficiency
Types of examinations for assesing the airways:
- Mallampati criteria
- Thyromental distance
- Calder test
- Wilson score
What is Mallampati criteria?
A test to assess the airway, and predict which patients may be difficult to intubate. The patient should be sitting upright, open their moiuth and protrude their tongue maximally. The view of pharyngeal structures is noted and graded I-IV.
How to measure Thyromental distance
With the head fully extended on the neck, distance between the bony point of the chin and the prominence of the thyroid cartilage is measured. Distance <7 cm suggests intubation will be difficult.
How to do a Calder test
Patient is asked to protrude their mandible as far as possible. The lower incisors will either lie anterior to, aligned with, or posterior to the upper incisors. The latter two suggests reduced view at laryngoscopy.
What is the Wilson Score used for and what are the parameters?
Increasing weight, reduction in head and neck movement, reduced mouth opening, and the presence of a receding mandible or buck-teeth all predispose to difficulty with intubation.
What is PACU?
PACU = Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
A unit dedicated to care for patients with respiratory or cardiovascular complications after undergoing anesthesia. Close to the ICU, but is not a part of the ICU.
Most common post-anesthesia respiratory & cardiovascular complications:
Respiratory:
- Airway obstruction
- Laryngospasm
- Hypoventilation
- Hypoxemia
Cardiovascular:
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Arrythmias
Other potential complications post-anesthesia:
- Airway obstruction
- Shivering
- Agitation
- Delirium
- Pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Hypothermia
- Autonomic liability
- Arterial pressure fluctuations.
What is delayed emergence?
Patient fails to regain consciousness within 60-90 min following general anesthesia
What medicine to give for delayed emergence?
- Naloxone (0,2 mg)
- Flumazenil (0,5 mg)
- Physostigmine (1-2 mg)
Causes of delayed emergence:
Most common cause is residual anesthetic in the system that causes a delayed sedative/analgesic effect:
Other causes (6H rule):
- Hypothermia (core temp < 33)
- Hypoxemia and hypercapnia
- Hypercalcemia
- Hypermagnesemia
- Hyponatremia
- Hypo/hyperglycemia
- Perioperative stroke.
Discharge criteria of PACU (to be sent to normal ward):
- Normal color
- Respiration (maintains own airway)
- Circulation,
- Consciousness (easy arousability)
- Stable vital signs
- No post-op complications
Definiton of shock
Lack of delivery of oxygen into the tissues
What’s the connection between shock and lactate level?
Lactate level increases with higher anaerobic metabolism and can help predict the outcome after a shock.
2-4 mmol/L in over 2-3 hours = drastic increase in mortality
(BUT REMEMBER: lactate can also increase in aerobic metabolism when high amount of pyruvate is metabolised)
Signs of circulatory insufficiency:
- Changes in filling pressure
- Systolic and or diastolic dysfunction
- Emptying disturbances
Compensation of circulatory insufficiency:
- Increased vascular volume
- Increased filling pressures
- Tachycardia
- Hypertrophy
Possible outcomes after altered myocardial state (e.g ischemia):
- Myocardial Infarction: Irreversible decrease in contractility due to high tissue damage
- Stunning: a reversible myocardial state where contraction is reduced due to mild tissue damage (may recover immediatly or last for weeks)
- Decreased contractility in some segments due to low flow. Not ischemia. Treatment = CABG
Classification of shock:
- Hypovolemic
- Obstructive
- Cardiogenic
- Distibutice
- Endocrine
What is preload and afterload?
Preload: The initial stretching of the cardiac myocytes (muscle cells) prior to contraction. It is related to ventricular filling.
Afterload: The force or load against which the heart has to contract to eject the blood.
Drugs for circulatory failure:
- Vasodilators:
- Noradrenaline. Can increase TPR, and stabilize pressure. (dangerous: can decrease the flow)
- ACE inhibitors: captopril, enlapril
- Nitrovasilators: NTG, NPS, hydralazine
- Calcium channel blockers
- Potassium channel activators: diazoxide, minoxidil, pinacidi
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors: Amrinone
- Calcium sensitizers: used for saving energy (contraindicated in diastolic dysfunction)
What does these abbreviations stand for?
- CBF
- CPP
- CVR
- DP-LVEDP
- CBF: Coronary Blood Flow
- CPP: Coronary Perfusion Pressure
- CVR: Coronary Vascular Resistance
- aortic Diastolic Pressure minus Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure
Formula for Coronary Blood Flow:
CBF = CPP/CVR = DP-LVEDP/CVR
Definition of hypotension in the operating room?
A drop in systolic BP > 40-50 mmHg from baseline (systolic value <95 or MAP <65 may be considered as criteria for hypotension)
How to monitor circulation in the operating room?
- Intermittent with brachial cuff
- Arterial line
- CVP
- ScvO2
- SaO2
- ABG analysis
- Echocardiography
Approach to hypotension:
COVER: Circulation, Oxygen, Ventilation, Endotracheal tube, Review monitor
- Improve posture!
- IV fluids: crystalloid bolus
- IV vasopressors: if severe use adrenaline
- Increase levels of monitoring (e.g TEE)
PS: HR of 40-60 in adults is normal during anesthesia
What is the function of a Cardiopulmonary bypass machine?
Collects venous blood –> adds oxygen –> returns blood to a large artery
(may cause activation of stress hormones or give air embolism)
What is Systemic hypothermia?
- Decreasing core temperature to under 35C (can go as low as close to 20)
- Usefull for organ injuries, especially brain injuries (O2 demand halved with each 10C decrease)
- Decreases circulatory function
- Rewarming achieved by Cardiopulmonary bypass machine
Side effect of Systemic Hypothermia?
Platelet dysfunction –> reversible coagulopathy
What is Profound Hypothermia?
Decreasing core temperature to <20C (around 15-20C)
What is Cardioplegia?
Intentional and temporary cessation of cardiac activity (primarily for cardiac surgery)
How is Cardioplegia achieved?
Patient is attached to cardiopulmonary machine while set into systemic hypothermia and given a mix of Ka, Mg and Ca in the coronary vessels during diastole.
- We make sure to maintain a Ka of 10-40mEq/L (normal is 3.5 -5)
- We make sure to maintan a Na of <140mEq/L (normal is 135-145)
Which medications is important to administer during Cardioplegia to avoid side effects?
To avoid coagulation within vessels:
- Heparin 3mg/kg by central line (keep anticogulation going for 400-450sec then reverse by giving Protamine)
Bleeding prophylaxis for the anticoagulation:
- Tranexamic Acid 10mg/kg
Best placements for Central Venous Lines (CVS):
- Subclavian Vein
- Jugularis Interna (2nd choice due to many nerves around it)
- Femoral Vein (easy, but non-sterile area = use for short time)
Explain insertion of Jugularis Interna CVS
- Lies between two heads of SCM
- .Patient lies with head down due to risk of air embolism
- 2nd choice due to lots of nerves passing by it
Explain peripheral venous line insertion
- Use cubital veins
- 2 sets: 45 and 75 cm (45 used most)
(Measure distance between cubital vein and subclavian vein to know how far to push the wire)
Explain insertion of Subclavian CVS
- Can be reached from over and under the clavicle
- The vein lies just over the 2nd rib and crosses under the clavicle
- Movement is flat, directly under the clavicle, do not go deep
- The catheter should stay in vena cava sup (or the subclavian itself).
- The catheter is only 20 cm.
What is a venous port?
- A small medical appliance that is installed beneath the skin and attached to a CVS
- Allows for easy IV injections for home and hospital use
- Can stay in the skin for 3-6 months
Indications for CVK?
- Long-term infusions of hypertonic, ptassium-containing and other irritating solutions
- Need for long term (>10days)
- Venous hemodialysis
- No accessible peripheral superficial veins
- As an access for pulmonary artery catheterization
What to do after CVK insertion?
Always take an X-ray to see if the tip of the catheter is placed correctly.
What is Central Venous Pressure and what does it reflect?
The CVP reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to pump blood back in the arterial system’
Normal CVP: 3-8 mmHg
60yr old or smoker CVP: around 15 mmHg
Examples of causes for change in CVP:
- Patient on a ventilator –> high thoracic pressure; CVP rarely below 18-20 mmHg
- Patient is recieving fluids –> 1-2 mmHg increase/hour (sing of improvments)
- Patient recieving fluids –> decrease or no change in CVP = Patient is bleeding somewhere!!!
Other factors affecting CVP?
- The zero reference point
- Posture
- Fluid status
- Raised intrathoracic pressure;
- mechanical ventilation, coughing,
- straining
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Tricuspid valve disease
- Pericardial effusion, tamponade
- Superior vena cava obstruction
Risk factors of CVK procedure:
- Punctre artery by mistake (HT, coagulopathy, long & large needle etc…)
- Puncture lymph nodes by mistake (portal HT, i.v drug abuse etc…)
- Puncture lung apex by mistake (apical blebs, emaciation, lung disease, etc…)
- Pnumothorax: the most common complication of CVK procedure
How can air embolism occur in patients with CVK?
- Hypovolemia and low venous blood pressure (high risk for air embolism)
- Labored inspiratory effects and tachypnea
- Inappropriate position of the patient during procedure (head elevated during subclavian or int.jugular puncture or cannulation)
- Accidental disconnection of the catheter from the i.v tubind (patient in upright position)
- When subclavian or int. jugular catheter is just removed and skin not covered by sterile bandage.
Risk factors of infection in CVK patients?
- Contaminated technique of insertion and or maintenance
- Immunocompromised state
- Terminal cancer state
- Long term i.v catheter therapy
What can cause clot formation in CVK patients?
- Catheter malposition
- Hypercoagulability states
- Catheter infection
- Chemically and physically irritative catherter and infusion fluids
- Long term indwelling catheter
Contraindications for CVK?
- Severe bleeding tendency and coagulopathy states (e.g patients on warfarin)
- Persistent shock
- Obstruction of sup. and inf. vena cavae, innominate, subclavian and int. jugular
- Local infection/necrosis at site of insertion
- Recently failed attempts at cannulation
- Resp. distress, tachypnea and labored inspirations
- Traumatic injury to sup. vena cava, innnominate, int. jugular or subclavian
- Patients refusal or retraction of previously given consent (important!
ABSOLUTE contraindications: Bleeding disorders and patient refusal!
What is a Cut-Down?
If you don’t have a peripheral vein and you don’t know how to do a CVK, you can do a «cutdown» in the cubital or popliteal vein. Open the skin, dissect around the vein and cut it with a scissor to introduce the catheter. Before cutting you should put two sticthes on the distal end of the vein to stop hemorrhage.
(This is an old method used before catheters were invented)
Where are arterial catheters placed?
- Radialis (most used artery)
- Dorsalis pedis
- Brachialis (not used for long-term)
Advantages of arterial catheters:
- Blood samples can be taken from it
- Can be used to measure blood pressure
(remember to flush it with heparin to keep it open)
What is the average daily water loss and what is the recommended treatment dosage of hypovolemia-risk patients?
- 2500ml is the average daily water loss
- 30ml/kg is recommended dosage (patient on operating table, add extra 15-20ml/kg)
How do we monitor and assess hydration lvl of patient at risk of hypovolemia?
- Urine output, normal 1ml/kg/h (best evaluation)
- General: HR, BP, pH, CVP, direct aBP + tilt test
- Lab: hemoconcentration, azotemia and high serum kreatinine, low urinary sodium, metabolic acidosis late sign of hypovolemia
Examples of Crystalloid IV fluids:
- Normal saline (0,9%NaCl)
- Ringer’s solution
- Hartmann Glucose (Plasmalyte)
Crystalloids, advantage & disadvantage:
Advantage:
- Less expense
- Greater urinary flow
- Replaces interstitial fluid (4 Liters must be given to equal 1 L of colloid!)
Disadvantage:
- Short-lived hemodynamic improvement
- More peripheral edema
- Pulmonary edema
Examples of Colloid IV fluids:
- Hydroxyethyl starch
- Gelofusine
- Albumin solution
Colloids, advantage & disadvantage:
Advantage:
- Smaller infused volume
- Prolonged increase in plasma volume
- Less peripheral edema
- Lower intracranial pressure
Disadvantage:
- Greater expense
- Coagulopathy/dextrane HES)
- Pulmonary edema /capillary leak
- Decreased Ca2+
- Decreased GFR
- Osmotic diuresis
What is hypertonic fluid resuscitation?
IV solution of 4-10% dextrose to replenish fluid loss in burn victims and treat hyponatremia
(very irritating to vessels, consider other solutions first)
What is defined as hypokalemia?
Serum K+ of < 3.5 mEq/l
Possible causes of Hypokalemia?
- Insufficient diet
- Fluid therapy
- Intravellular movement of K+ (alkalosis, insulin therapy, Beta-adrenergic agonists, hypothermia, transfsion of frozen RBCs)
- Losses (almost always renal or GIT)
Symptoms of hypokalemia?
- Weakness
- Cramping
- Tetany
- Myalgia
- Constipation
Treatment procedure for hypokalemia?
- Replace slowly, and only to big veins!
- No more than 8 mEq/h IV in peripheral vein or 10-20 mEq/h to CVK
- Up to 240 mEq/day potassium chloride
- Mild hypokalemia (3 - 3.5mEq/L) can be treated by oral potassium chloride
- Generally safe rate of IV infusion = 10mEq/hour.
Main symptom of abnormal Na lvls?
Neurologic symptoms (both hyper-and hyponatremia)
E.g hypernatremia –> rupture of cerebral vessels
Which substances do we see in higher concentration after few days of starvation?
Ketones and Glycerol
Hormone changes when body undergoes catabolism?
- Higher glucagon lvl
- Cathecolamine-induced gluconeogenesis
In diabetic patents catabolism is very harder to stop (improper insulin –> improper glucose intake by cells)
How does protein half life play into account in starvation?
Different proteins = different half lifes
Shortest: (prealbumin, enzymatic proteins, prothrombin, clotting factors)
Longest: Albumin
(this is why people bleed out of their orifices during starvation)
Indications for parenteral nutrition?
- GI disturbances
- GI surgery
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Unconsciousness, comatose
- Cranio-cerebral trauma
- Tetanus
- Anorexia
- Malignant disease
What is hyperalimentation?
Providing parenteral nutrition to a patient that requires it.
What is the protocol for hyperalimentation of a patient in a catabolic state?
Patient in catabolic state is recommended to start with only basic requirements, then later (after ~8 days) increase amount when they reach anabolic state
In hyperalimentation, when does the caloric requirement increase?
- If patent has a fever of 39C –> 20% increase
- Fever above 40C or major surgery –> 30%
- Sever burns –> 150% increase
- Brain concussion –> 300% increase (5400kcal daily)
Which parameters do you check in a patient receving nutrition?
Glucose and Osmolarity every few hours!
What is parenteral nutrition?
“Feeding” the patient by giving a nutritious IV solution
What do you need to do right after parenteral nutrition is discontinued?
Give 10% IV glucose for 24 hours, to avoid hypoglycemia or hypokalemia due the still active insulin