April 6, 2016 - Electrolyte Problems

Question 1

Causes of Abnormal Electrolytes

Answer 1

Abnormal [Na⁺ ] is almost always due to abnormal amounts of solvent

Abnormal [Any other electrolyte] is due to levels of that electrolyte

Question 2

Location of Electrolytes

Answer 2

Anywhere there is fluid, so therefore intracellularly, extracellularly (devided into the interstital compartment and the intravascular compartment).

We only have access to the intravascular compartment.

Question 3

Which Processes Influence Intravascular [E⁺] ?

Answer 3

Change in intake

OR

Change in loss

OR

Transcellular shift

Question 4

Causes of Abnormal Electrolytes

Answer 4

1. Loss (either renal or other… this category is most common)
2. Shift (from intracellular to extracellular)
3. Intake (problem with ingestion or absorption)

Question 5

Fractional Excretion

Answer 5

The amount of an electrolyte that was filtered and then not reabsorbed by the tubules.

Question 6

Fractional Excretion - Sodium

Answer 6

For sodium this is easy as because sodium follows water, 100% of the sodium is filtered.

This is unlike other electrolytes that are bound to things such as albumin and are not all filtered by the kidneys.