Water & Electrolytes Flashcards
Major extracellular electrolyte
Na+
Major intracellular electrolyte
K+
Colloid osmotic pressure
Major force that holds fluid intravascularly
Regulated by liver synthesis of albumin
Decreased by effusions, edema, hypovolemia, hypoalbuminemia, vascular leaks
Purple top tube (EDTA) effects on electrolytes in blood sample
Increased K+
Decreased Ca2+/Mg2+
Decreased HCO3-
(Looks like acidosis.. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic ACID
Blue top tube (Sodium-Cirtrate) effects of electrolytes in blood sample
Increased Na+
Decreased Ca2+/Mg2+
Decreased HCO3-
Decreased Cl-
(Looks like acidosis)
Major determinant of osmolality
Sodium
Causes of hyponatremia
GI loss (vomiting, diarrhea) Renal loss (diuretics, hypoadrenocorticism) Sequestration (chylothorax, uroabdomen) Cutaneous (sweating) Inadequate intake (herbivores)
Potassium shifts _____ due to acidosis
extracellularly
exchanges for H+
What stimulates cellular uptake of glucose WITH potassium?
Insulin
What can be used to treat hyperkalemia by shifting K+ into cells?
Insulin with dextrose
Ex. urethral obstruction in male cat
What happens when K+ accumulates in blood as a result of diabetes mellitus (insulin deficiency)?
Hyperkalemia
How can a diabetic be normokalemic?
K+ removed from blood by kidneys
How can a diabetic be hypokalemic?
Diabetics can develop ketoacidosis (excess H+)
Causes K+ to shift out of cells and be lost by kidneys
Causes of hypokalemia
GI loss Increased renal excretion Decreased intake Iatrogenic Metabolic alkalosis
Major extracellular anion
Cl-
Causes of hyperchloremia
Na related increases
Compensation for decreased bicarb
Iatrogenic
Spurious
Causes of hypochloremia
Na related decreases
Loss of chloride rich secretions
Iatrogenic
spurious
What does a loss of chloride WITHOUT loss of Na indicate?
vomiting
How can you tell on a blood gas whether a metabolic acidosis is due to a loss of bicarb OR a titration of bicarb?
With a loss of bicarb, Cl- will be increased
