Pre-op/Post-op Care Flashcards
what are the H+ and K+ shifts in acidosis and what are the results?
H+ ions move from an area of high conc. (extracellular) to an area of low conc. (intracellular), causes K+ to move out of the cell → thus, acidosis
what are the H+ and K+ shifts in alkalosis and what are the results?
H+ ions move from area of high conc. (intracellular) to an area of low conc. (extracellular), causes K+ to move into the cell → thus, alkalosis is a/w hypokalemia
alkalosis vs acidosis pH?
alkalosis = >7.45
acidosis = <7.35
what are the plasma bicarb levels like for metabolic acidosis?
Plasma HCO3 < normal = metabolic acidosis
what are the plasma bicarb levels like for metabolic alkalosis?
Plasma HCO3 > normal = metabolic alkalosis
metabolic acid-base d/o’s are d/o’s of what?
d/o’s of bicarb
respiratory acid-based d/o’s are d/o’s of what?
d/o’s of CO2
what is respiratory acidosis a result of?
retention of CO2 b/c of pulm. alveolar hypoventilation
what are causes of respiratory acidosis?
Acute Resp. Failure:
- CNS depression (d/t opioids, sedative, trauma, anesthetic)
- Cardiopulmonary arrest
- Pneumonia
- Decr. resp. effort d/t pain from incisions/trauma
- PE, hemorrhoids/pneumothorax
Chronic Resp. Failure:
-Advanced lung disease (ex. COPD) -> results in compensated hypoventilation & is well tolerated
respiratory acidosis is primary when what change occurs?
*Primary if pH and PaCO2 change in opposite directions
what’s the s/s of respiratory acidosis?
Hypercapnia and hypoxia
Restlessness and agitation
Mild HTN
As levels rise → confusion, somnolence, and ultimately coma, cardiac arrest
what’s the tx for respiratory acidosis?
- Remove cause and ensure adequate oxygenation, or mechanical ventilation
- Improve pain control
Do NOT correct too rapidly -> can cause severe dysrhythmias (V-tach)
***DON’T ADMIN BICARB W/OUT TREATING THE CAUSE
when should you NOT administer bicarb in respiratory acidosis?
***DON’T ADMIN BICARB W/OUT TREATING THE CAUSE
what are the 2 major causes of metabolic acidosis?
- Loss of bicarb from extracellular space (normal anion gap - hyperchloremic)
- Incr. metabolic acid load (high anion gap)
what’s the cause of non-anion gap metabolic acidosis?
Lost HCO3 is replaced by Cl- → there’s an accumulation of Cl- conc.
***Occurs acutely w/ GI d/o (diarrhea, external pancreatic fistula)
Occurs chronically w/ renal dysfunctions, ureterointestinal anastomosis, decr. mineralocorticoid activity, use of diuretic acetazolamide, burn patients
what’s the causes of high anion gap metabolic acidosis?
- **MUDPILES
- Methanol, Uremia, DKA, Propylene glycol, Isoniazid/Infection, Lactic Acidosis, Ethylene Glycol, Salicylates (also Rhabdo/renal failure)
- **Lactic Acidosis = MCC
- Occurs w/ shock
- Type A (hypoxia)
- Type B (not hypoxia) - d/t liver failure, renal failure, thiamine ef. ETOH intox, metformin
what does MUDPILES stand for and what does it cause?
Methanol, Uremia, DKA, Propylene glycol, Isoniazid/Infection, Lactic Acidosis, Ethylene Glycol, Salicylates (also Rhabdo/renal failure)
causes high anion gap metabolic acidosis
what’s the MCC of high anion gap metabolic acidosis?
Lactic acidosis
when is metabolic acidosis primary?
*Primary if pH and PaCO2 change in same direction
what’s the s/s of metabolic acidosis?
Resp. compensation occurs w/ both acute and chronic metabolic acidosis
what’s the tx of metabolic acidosis?
Treat and correct the underlying d/o
Hypovolemia must be corrected, bleeding must be stopped, sepsis controlled, and/or cardiac fxn improved to improve tissue perfusion
*Admin of bicarb w/out correcting the underlying problem will not return the pH to normal
what’s the pH and CO2 like in respiratory alkalosis?
Incr. in pH related to a decr. in PaCO2
what’s the cause of respiratory alkalosis?
***Incr. in pH related to alveolar hyperventilation
Common in surgical pts d/t pain (MC in young, not elderly - would cause hypoventilation and respiratory acidosis in elderly)
hypoxia, fever, brain injury, sepsis, liver failure, mechanical ventilation
Compensatory mechanism = renal excretion of bicarb (only w/ acute)
what’s the s/s of respiratory alkalosis?
Paresthesias, carpopedal spasm, Chvostek’s sign
K+, Mg, Ca, Phosphate metabolism are all disturbed
Decr. cerebral blood flow (esp. In acute brain injury, atherosclerosis of cerebral blood vessels)
what’s the tx for respiratory alkalosis if spontaneously breathing?
correct the underlying cause of the hyperventilation
what’s the tx for respiratory alkalosis if mechanically ventilated?
reduce the amount of ventilation
what’s the pH and bicarb like in metabolic alkalosis?
Incr. pH related to a incr. In HCO3 (bicarb)
what’s the MC acid-base d/o in surgical patients?
metabolic alkalosis
what electrolyte abnormalities occur in metabolic alkalosis?
GI and renal losses of K+ and Cl- ions can occur & cause hypochloremic hypokalemic metabolic acidosis
caused by -> ***Vomiting/NG suction (loss of gastric HCl), chronic diarrhea, loop diuretics
what’s the s/s for metabolic alkalosis?
K+ depletion → paralytic ileus, digitalis toxicity, cardiac arrhythmias
what’s the tx for metabolic alkalosis?
Replacement of electrolytes (esp. chloride and potassium) and of fluids specific to the type of loss, and control of ongoing losses
what’s the worst single finding predicting high cardiac risk? how’s it treated?
JVD
-treated w/ ACEIs, BBs, digitalis, and diuretics before surgery
what cardiac pt should avoid surgery and needs further evaluation prior to an elective procedure/
pt with unstable angina
what’s Virchow’s triad?
stasis, hyper coagulability, endothelial injury
what is the MC type of hypo-osmolality w/ hypervolemia?
hyponatremia
what are causes of hyponatremia?
SIADH (increased ADH secretion)
Loss of isotonic fluid d/t GIT d/o (body forced to retain water)
Hyperglycemia (causes cells to release water, diluting Na)
Low blood volume/BP (incr. ADH)
Hypertonic mannitol admin
what are the primary sx’s of hyponatremia?
CNS dysfunction
-muscle cramps/seizures
what are sx’s of untreated severe hyponatremia?
seizures, coma, areflexia,d eath
what’s the tx for hypotonic hyponatremia? (Isovolemic, Hypervolemia, Hypovolemic)
Isovolemic: H20 restriction
Hypervolemia: H2O + Na restriction
Hypovolemic: NS
what’s the tx for hypertonic hyponatremia?
NS until hemodynamically stable → switch to ½ NS
what’s the tx for severe hyponatremia?
Hypertonic saline + Furosemide
when must you be cautious in treating hyponatremia?
if you do it too quickly!!!
-repleting Na too quickly may result in Central Pontine Myelinolysis (demyelination of cells from shrinkage caused by rapid shift of serum Na)
what’s the MCC of hypernatremia?
volume depletion/hypovolemia
what are causes of hypernatremia?
MCC is volume depletion/hypovolemia
diarrhea, burn, DI, hyperglycemia
what are the s/s of hypernatremia?
***Incr. BUN:Cr >20:1 (b/c dehydrated), dry mucous membranes, hypotension
CNS dysfxn: hypertonicity shifts water out of cells → shrinkage of brain cells
-Confusion, lethargy, coma, muscle weakness, seizures
when does severe hypernatremia occur?
Severe hyperNa occurs when person can’t obtain water
what’s the tx for hypernatremia?
D5W IV → monitored every 2 hrs until Na < 145
-Then infusion decr. to 1 mL/kg/hr until Na is 140
Goal is to lower serum Na by 1-2 mEq/L per hr in < 24 hrs (don’t want to lower too quickly)
Caution hyperglycemia
what should you be cautious about when treating hypernatremia?
about causing hyperglycemia b/c giving pt D5W
what’s the tx of Diabetes Insipidus?
Desmopressin (ADH analog)
what are the MC causes of hypokalemia?
Increased urinary/GI losses like:
- ***diuretic therapy
- vomiting, diarrhea
what are other causes oh hypokalemia?
metabolic alkalosis, insulin, hypomagnesemia, hyperaldosteronism (increases K+ excretion from kidneys)
Meds (that cause large shifts of K+ from extracellular to intracellular)
- diuretics (loops & thiazides)
- insulin
when to the s/s of hypokalemia manifest?
when K+ < 3.0 mEq/L
what are the s/s of hypokalemia?
muscle cramps, constipation, T wave flattening, U wave
what’s the tx of hypokalemia?
- **K+ replacement with KCL PO (if possible)
- IV KCl given for rapid tx/severe sx
K sparing diuretics (spironolactone, amiloride)
if hypomagnesemia present, need to give Mg (to correct hypoK)
what can too rapid of IV K+ replacement cause?
hyperkalemia and fatal cardiac arrhythmias
what fluids make hypokalemia worse?
dextrose fluids b/c increases insulin causing more K to go into the cells
what are causes of hyperkalemia?
Decreased renal excretion
Decr. aldosterone (hyperaldosteronism, adrenal insufficiency)
Meds: K supplements, K-sparing diuretics, ACEI/ARBs, digoxin, BBs, NSAIDs
Metabolic acidosis (DKA)*
what are the s/s of hyperkalemia?
cardiac sx’s
- pearked T waves
- prolonged QRS -> sin wave -> arrhythmias (v-fib)
- muscle fatigue
what arrhythmia can develop in hyperkalemia?
v-fib
what’s the tx for hyperkalemia?
IV Calcium gluconate*** (stabilizes cardiac membrane)
Insulin w/ glucose (shifts K+ intracellularly) + bicarb
Kayexalate (enhances GI K+ excretion)
when you have hypomagnesemia, what do you also have?
hypokalemia and hypophosphorus
what are causes of hypomagnesemia?
Malabsorption:
-**ETOHics, Celiac disease, small bowel bypass, diarrhea, vomiting, laxatives
Renal losses (diuretics, PPIs)
what are the 2 MC causes of hypermagnesemia?
Renal insufficiency (decr. Mg excretion)
Increased Mg intake (ex. Overcorrection of hypoMg)
what are the s/s of hypermagnesemia?
muscle weakness, decreased DTRs
prolonged QT/PR and wide QRS
what’s the tx for hypermagnesemia?
IV saline and control MG intake
Calcium Gluconate
diuretics (furosemide) or dialysis