Electrolyte Abnormality Flashcards
Highest sodium concentration that should be allowed before cancelling an elective surgery
150 mEq/L
Lowest sodium concentration that should be allowed before cancelling an elective surgery
130 mEq/L
3 things that happen when sodium is reabsorbed
- Water is reabsorbed and blood volume increases
- Bicarb and chloride are reabsorbed and can lead to metabolic alkalosis
- Potassium is excreted, leading to hypokalemia
Acidosis caused by excess N/S administration
Hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis (w/normal anion gap)
What happens in RAAS if a patient becomes hypotensive or hypovolemic (5 steps)
- Renin is secreted from the kidneys
- Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
- ACE converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II
- Angiotensin II increases blood pressure (vasoconstriction and release of aldosterone and ADH)
- ADH causes water reabsorption, while aldosterone causes sodium AND water reabsorption
Increases sodium AND water reabsorption
Aldosterone
What happens when aldosterone is released? (4 things)
- Plasma sodium concentration increases
- Blood volume increases
- HCO3- increases possible metabolic alkalosis
- Plasma potassium concentration decreases
What happens when ADH is released?
- Increases water reabsorption
- Blood volume increases
- Plasma sodium concentration decreases
What happens with Cushing’s disease?
- Aldosterone increase
- increased blood volume/hypertension
- Hypernatremia
- Hypokalemia
- metabolic alkalosis - Steroid/cortisol concentrations increase
- hyperglycemia
What happens with Addison’s Disease?
Adrenal insufficiency
- aldosterone decreases
- hypovolemia/hypotension
- Hyponatremia
- Hyperkalemia
- Metabolic acidosis - Decrease in cortisol
- hypoglycemia
Occurs when there are increased aldosterone concentrations, but normal cortisol levels
Hyperaldosteronism
Clinical manifestations of hyperaldosteronism may include
- Hypokalemia
- Hypernatremia
- Increased blood volume and blood pressure
- Metabolic alkalosis
Treatment for hyperaldosteronism
Potassium sparing diuretics
Occurs when there are decreased aldosterone concentrations, but normal cortisol
Hypoaldosteronism
Cause of hypoaldosteronism
Renal failure
Clinical manifestations of hypoaldosteronism
- Hyponatremia and hyperkalemia
2. Metabolic acidosis
Hypernatremia is defined as ____
> 145 mEq/dL
Etiologies of hypernatremia
- Retention of sodium
2. Dehydration where water loss is greater than sodium loss
Symptoms of hypernatremia
- Brain cell shrinkage
- Increased MAC requirements
- Hypertension
- Hyperreflexia and possible weakness
- Potentiation of the effects of muscle relaxants
Treatment of hypernatremia
- Hypotonic fluid
- Loop diuretics
TREAT SLOWLY
How do you calculate water deficit in hypernatremic patients?
Water deficit = normal total body water - present total body water
How do you estimate normal total body water?
Patients weight in kg x percentage of body weight that is water = TBW
(Normal TBW)(Normal [Na+]) = (present [Na+])(x)
Water deficit for hypernatremic patients should be replaced over ____
48 hours
Occurs when the posterior pituitary fails to secrete ADH
Central diabetes insipidus
How is central diabetes insipidus treated?
- Hypotonic fluids
- DDAVP
- Thiazide diuretics
Occurs when the kidneys do not respond to ADH
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Treatment of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
- Hypotonic fluids
2. Thiazide diuretics
Plasma sodium concentration considered hyponatremic
<135 mEq/dL
Etiologies of hyponatremia
- Retention of water
2. Dehydration where sodium loss is greater than water loss
Possible symptoms of hyponatremia
- Cerebral edema
- Altered mental status
- Muscle weakness
Examples of hyponatremia from water retention
- SIADH
2. AIDs
How does the body compensate for hyponatremia in a euvolemic or hypervolemic patient?
By suppressing ADH release
Treatment of hyponatremia
Give sodium
- Find out how many mEq/L the patient is deficient in sodium
- Find out how many total mEq the patient is deficient in sodium using TBW
How much sodium is in 0.9% of NS?
154 mEq/L
What can happen with rapid hyponatremia treatment?
- Central pontine myelinolysis
- Pulmonary edema
- Hypokalemia
- Hyperchloremic acidosis
Max daily rate of sodium correction
10-12 mEq/L
Why can’t a surgeon use normal saline for irrigation with TURP?
Saline disperses the electrocautery current
Advantages to performing TURP with a laser
- Normal saline can be used as an irrigation solution
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay