Fluid & Electrolyte Balance Disorders Flashcards
What is the level of hyponatraemia? (mmol/L)
What level of hyponatraemia gives clinical consequences?
Hyponatraemia = < 135 mmol/L;
clinical consequences = < 125 mmol/L
(so is 135-145 normal and then +/- 10 either way = clinical consequences)
What is the numerical value of hypernatraemia?
What level gives clinical consequences?
Hypernatraemia > 145 mmol/L;
clinical consequences > 155 mmol/L
(so is 135-145 normal and then +/- 10 either way = clinical consequences)
What numerical value (mmol/L) is “hypokalaemia”?
< 3.5 mmol/L
What numerical value = “hyperkalaemia”?
> 4.7 mmol/L;
[so approximate range is 3.5-4.7]
clinical consequences > 6mmol/L
>6.5 = ~life threatening ventricular tachy
What numerical level is hypercalcaemia? (corrected)
> 2.6 mmol/L corrected calcium
> 3 mmol/L severe
- asymptomatic/ anorexia,
- nausea, malaise → headache, nausea, confusion, muscle cramps, ↓GCS & seizures
- Cerebral oedema, coma, fits
what electrolyte imbalance caused this & how did it occur (e.g. causes)?
Hyponatraemia (<135mmol/L; clinical consequences <125mmol/L)
e.g:
Excessive intake/retention water (dilution):
- DH, drugs (Ecstasy, carbamazepine, anti-depressants), CCF, cirrhosis, CKD/nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, pregnancy
Renal Na loss:
- diuretics (cause Na loss),
- mineralocorticoid deficiency (normally aldosterone retains Na+),
- tubular disorders - dysfunctions of transporters and channels in renal tubular system
- SIADH (inc, aquaporins), cerebral salt wasting
Other Na loss:
- vomiting, diarrhoea, burns
Pseudo-hyponatraemia: hyperprotienaemia, hyperlipidaemia
- lethargy, thirst, weakness, irritability, fits, signs of dehydration
- mild confusion –> coma,
what electrolyte imbalance caused this & how did it occur (e.g. causes)?
Hypernatraemia (>145mmol/L; clinical consequences >155mmol/L)
Causes:
- water loss, blunted thirst with age,
- –> diabetes insipidus, DM (osmotic diuresis),
- –> diuretic use
- (NB: confusing as they also cause hyponatraemia, loop diuretics can increase water clearance giving relative hypernatraemia, just rememeber diuretics affect Na i guess!!),
- iatrogenic (excessive saline e.g. water gain),
- rarely sodium gain
What electrolyte imbalance caused this type of problem and how did it occur e.g. causes?
- muscle weakness,
- hypotonia,
- hyporeflexia,
- fatigue,
- constipation/paralytic ileus,
- ascending paralysis (<2mmol/L),
- arrhythmias
Hypokalaemia (<3.5mmol/L)
- Excessive renal loss: drugs (thiazides, loop), endocrine (aldosterone excess), inherited defects
- Magnesium deficiency (Na/K ATPase)
- Processes driving K+ into cells: acute alkalosis (e.g. low H+ = K+ into cells in exchange for intracellular H+ out into blood), insulin Rx, thyrotoxicosis
- GI losses: diarrhoea, vomiting (H+ loss causes alkalosis & K+ redistribution), low dietary potassium
What electrolyte imbalance does this indicate & what could have caused it?
- weakness of skeletal muscle,
- arrhythmias
Hyperkalaemia (>4.7mmol/L; clinical consequences >6mmol/L)
Reduced renal loss: low GFR, K-sparing diruetics, trimethoprim, RAAS inhibiting drugs - ACEI, mineralocorticoid deficiency (Addison’s), dietary excess
K+ release from cells: [e.g. weakness of skeletal muscle- if K+ is not in the cells = cant move to contract it; mg and K+ are both predominant Intracellular cations]
- acidosis (exchange for H+),
- tumour lysis,
- insulin deficiency,
- depolarising muscle paralysis,
- rhabdomyolysis,
Why is Ca2+ important to the resting state of Na+ channels in depolarisation?
Ca2+ STABILISED the resting state of Na+ channels
Ca2+ TF prevents spontaneous depolarisation
What electrolyte imbalance maybe happening with these signs and syx, what is the cause?
- paraesthesia (peri-oral),
- muscle cramps,
- tetany,
- laryngeal stridor,
- Chovostek & Trousseau signs,
- abdo pain,
- seizures,
- arrhythmias
Hypocalcaemia
- alkalosis,
- hypoparathyroidism,
- renal failure,
- vit D deficiency,
- malabsorption,
- acute pancreatitis (precipitation of calcium soaps in abdominal cavity but also glucagon stimulated calcitonin release)
- rhabdomyolysis, (hyperkalaemia but hypocalcaemia)
- sepsis,
- low Mg,
- panic attacks
What electrolyte imbalance maybe happening and what is the cause?
asymptomatic or
- bones (osteoporosis),
- stones (renal, UTIs, uraemia),
- abdo groans (constipation ulceration),
- psychic moans (mental disturbance),
- slow reflexes, polyuria, thirst, anorexia, weakness, HTN
Hypercalcaemia (>2.6mmol/L corrected calcium, >3mmol/L severe)
- acidosis
- hyperparathyroidism,
- thiazide diuretics (block NaCl but that is linked to calcium transport back into blood TF vs loop diuretics = inhibit the Na-K-2Cl transporter and TF increase Ca loss)
- malignant disease (BLT PK - breast, lung, thyroid, prostate (sclerotic), kidney),
- sarcoidosis,
- thyrotoxicosis,
- vit D intoxication,
- cortisol deficiency - (normally cortisol blocks calcium absorption by bone; inc cortisol = dc bone density)
- FHH (familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia e.g. inherited hypercalcaemia)
A patient is found to be having
- anorexia, nausea, malaise → headache, nausea, confusion, muscle cramps, ↓GCS & seizures
- Cerebral oedema, coma, fits
(NB: can be asymptomatic)
What is the Rx?
hyponatraemia
Rx: depends on if it is hypo/eu/hypervolaemic hypernatraemia –> Rx cause
- if hypervolaemic: Fluid restriction, cautious 0.9% saline, vasopressor receptor antagonists
- *Consider hypertonic saline e.g. 1.8% in emergency (–> draws fluid out…used in hyponatraemia, volume resus and brain injury)
-
Important to correct sodium at a slow speed - no more than 10mmol/L per 24hrs Na change
- Over-rapid correction may lead to central pontine myelinolysis (dehydrated brain)
-
Important to correct sodium at a slow speed - no more than 10mmol/L per 24hrs Na change
You have a patient presenting with mild confusion to coma, lethargy, thirst, weakness, irritability, fits, signs of dehydration
What is the Rx?
Hypernatraemia (>145mmol/L; clinical consequences >155mmol/L)
Rx of hypernatraemia:
- 1) WATER
- stop water loss (anti-emetic, stop diuretic, Rx diarrhoea)
- aim to replace 1/3rd water deficit per 24hrs + replace ongoing losses
- Water orally if possible
- 2) If not, give 5% glucose 1L/6h guided by UO & bloods
- 3) Important to correct sodium at a slow speed - no more than 10mmol/L per 24hrs Na change
- NB: Over-rapid correction of hypernatraemia may lead to cerebral oedema (too much fluid added)
A patient presents with muscle weakness, hypotonia, hyporeflexia, fatigue, constipation/paralytic ileus, ascending paralysis (<2mmol/L), arrhythmias.
What is the appropiate Rx?
Hypokalaemia (<3.5mmol/L)
potassium supplements (caution with renal impairment) oral preferably,
–> IV if <2mmol/L
A patients ECG is showing ST depression, flat T waves, U wave, extra-systoles
and arrythmias including AF, SVT, VT.
What electrolyde balance dysfunction does this indicate?
Hypokalaemia (<3.5mmol/L)
A patients ECG is showing tall tented T waves, broad QRS, prolonged PR, flat P waves and arrhythmias inclusing asystole & VF.
What is the underlying electrolyte disturbance?
Hyperkalaemia (>4.7mmol/L; clinical consequences >6mmol/L)
A patient is experiencing weakness of skeletal muscle & arrhythmias (systole, VF) what is the rx?
Hyperkalaemia (>4.7mmol/L; clinical consequences >6mmol/L)
Rx:
- K+ restriction (including K+ sparing drugs); if >6.3mmol/L:
- IV calcium gluconate (10ml 10%) if abnormal ECG to stabilise
- Measures to reduce serum K+
- 10U insulin + dextrose 50mL of 50%
- Salbutamol 10-20mg nebs
- If acidaemia & hypovolaemic - 1.4% sodium bicarbonate
- If resistant may need dialysis or hemofiltration
a patient is showing symptoms of - paraesthesia (peri-oral), muscle cramps, tetany, laryngeal stridor, Chovostek & Trousseau signs, abdo pain, seizures, arrhythmias.
What is the Rx?
Hypocalcaemia
–> rx =
- calcium supplements,
- calcium gluconate if urgent,
- Mg if needed (low mg –> inhibits PTH secretion = hypocalcaemia),
- vit D if needed etc.
A patient is presenting with ECG change –> Long QT and Arrhythmias including VF and heart block.
What is the likely electrolyte abnormality?
hypocalcaemia
(Rx: calcium supplements, calcium gluconate if urgent, Mg if needed, vit D if needed etc)
A patient is presenting with ecg changes - short QT but no arrythmias (they are uncommon for this)
what is the likely electrolyte abnormality?
Hypercalcaemia (>2.6mmol/L corrected calcium, >3mmol/L severe)
(Rx: fluids, bisphosphonates, Rx cause e.g. cancer mets etc)
How do you investigate for hypercalcaemia e.g. pt with
asymptomatic or bones (osteoporosis), stones (renal, UTIs, uraemia), abdo groans (constipation ulceration), psychic moans (mental disturbance), slow reflexes, polyuria, thirst, anorexia, weakness, HTN?
- Ca,
- PTH,
- phosphate,
- ALP,
- 24hr urinary Ca,
- TFTs,
- vit D,
- XR,
- DEXA,
- sestamibi (nuclear medicine used to look at heart, breast and PTH!)
Rx: fluids, bisphosphonates, Rx cause
How do you Rx for hypercalcaemia
e.g. pt with (asymptomatic) or bones (osteoporosis), stones (renal, UTIs, uraemia), abdo groans (constipation ulceration), psychic moans (mental disturbance), slow reflexes, polyuria, thirst, anorexia, weakness, HTN?
- fluids, bisphosphonates, Rx cause
[hyperparathyroidism, thiazide diuretics, malignant disease (BLT PK - breast, lung, thyroid, prostate (sclerotic), kidney), sarcoidosis, thyrotoxicosis, vit D intoxication, cortisol deficiency, FHH, acidosis]
Fluid replacement can be 5% glucose (dextrose), 0.9% NaCl (saline) or colloid e.g. volplex - 5% human albumin
Which fluid replacement is given the way you give IV water, but not bulk blood volume - as Only 5% of this fluid stays in the intravascular space (the rest Intracellular aka the same distribution as for water)?
5% glucose (dextrose)!
Fluid replacement can be 5% glucose (dextrose), 0.9% NaCl (saline) or colloid e.g. volplex - 5% human albumin
Which fluid replacement is best for resuscitating blood volume in very haemodyamically compromised patient - where initally most of it stays in the intravascular space?
Colloid e.g. Volplex 5% human albumin
Fluid replacement can be 5% glucose (dextrose), 0.9% NaCl (saline) or colloid e.g. volplex - 5% human albumin
Which fluid replacement is better for resuscitating blood volume with 33% staying in the intravascular space and distribution as for ECF?
0.9% NaCl (saline)
Water balance is very important for the body,
- where does water intake and
- output come from and
- how does water redistribute?
- Water intake comes from drinking water but also in food - fluid is metabolically produced from food
- output of water = sweat, faeces, urine, evaporation
- redistribution of water occurs when osmotically active substances are in the blood and may result in water distribution to maintain osmotic balance but cause changes in other measured solutes
- Excess solute in ECF = hyperosmolality –> cells shrink (dehydrate)
- excess water in ECF (hypoosmolality) –> cells swell (oedema)
Water balance is very important in the body and exists in different fluid compartments: ICF, ECF and as total body water. What are the levels of these?
Total body water = 42L (60% body weight in a 70kg human)
ICF: 2/3rds
ECF: 1/3rd
- Of the ECF 1/3rd…
- Interstitial fluid 2/3rds
- (comes from substances that link out of blood capillaries & so is fluid found in the spaces around cells - helps bring oxygen and nutrients to cells to remove waste products from them)
- Plasma + lymph 1/3rd
- Interstitial fluid 2/3rds
What are stimulation of vasopressin release. stimulation of hypothalamic thirst centre and redistribution of water from ICF all triggered by and then all work towards?
Water loss –> INCREASE ECF OSMOLALITY
- stimulates vasopressin release –> renal water retention
- stimulation of hypothalamic thirst centre –> increased water intake
- redistribution of water from ICF –> increased ECF water
–> restoration of ECF osmolality
[ECF = interstitial fluid and plasma + lymph]
How does ADH/vasopressin work?
- Acts on renal collecting ducts →↑ permeable to water (aquaporin channels):
- = water absorption back into the body = conctration of urine
*