Sketchy Path: Renal - "Potassium Disorders"

Question 1

What is a normal range of potassium?

Answer 1

3.5 - 5.0

Question 2

List the etiologies of hypokalemia.

Answer 2

• Diuretics, most commonly loop diuretics or DCT diuretics (like the high dive and loop-da-loop branch)
• Hyperaldosteronism (mineral in the branches)
• Vomiting and diarrhea (monkey vomiting and pooping)
• Barter’s and Gittelman
• RTA 1 and 2 (girl with 1 and 2 test tubes in each hand)
• Hypomagnesemia (fallen magazine)
• Beta-agonists (guy with beta-2 tuba) –though this is just a shift into cells, like giving insulin
• Alkalosis (BASIC ape poop cleaner)

Question 3

What are the causes of hyperaldosteronism?

Answer 3

• Conn syndrome
• Cushing’s
• CAH
• CHF (floppy heart balloon)
• Nephrotic syndrome (IVVD)
• Cirrhosis (IVVD)

Question 4

The signs and symptoms of hypokalemia include _________________.

Answer 4

weakness, fatigue, and loss of DTRs (weak monkey with limp legs in the tree)

Ileus can also result –like the monkey’s bloated belly.

Question 5

Describe the EKG changes seen in hypokalemia.

Answer 5

• Flattened T waves (monkey stepping on curved vine)

* U waves (monkey raising part of vine after T rise)

Question 6

What cardiac complications can hypokalemia cause?

Answer 6

• SVT
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Ventricular fibrillation
• Ectopic beats

Question 7

List the causes of hyperkalemia.

Answer 7

• CKD (shriveled poop shaped like kidneys)
• Antihypertensives that target aldosterone, such as ACE inhibitors, spironolactone, amiloride (ACE in the backpack, SPIRal notebook, AlMonds in the backpack)
• Type IV RTA (monkey with four tubes making a big K)
• Low mineralocorticoid disorders (Addison’s)
• Disruption of cell membranes, such as rhabdomyolysis, tumor lysis syndrome, and injury (monkey eating Crispy chicKen, kid with cast, and torn comics of archers)
• Beta-blockers (closed tuba case)
• Type I diabetes (torn INSide mat)
• Acidosis (yellow volcano)

Question 8

Hyperkalemia causes what EKG changes?

Answer 8

• Peaked T waves (girl using map as peaked hat)

* Widened QRS complex (like the sine-wave river on the boy’s map)

Question 9

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia?

Answer 9

weakness, fatigue, and loss of DTRs –just like hypokalemia (weak guy with limp legs climbing the terrarium)