Week 6: Electrolytes Flashcards
What are electrolytes?
Ionized salts (cations or anios)
Do electrolytes dissolve in water?
Yes
Normal serum concentration of Sodium?
135-145 mEq/L
135-145 mmol/ L
Normal serum concentration of Potassium?
3.5- 5.0 mEq/ L
3.5-5.50 mmol/ L
Normal serum concentration of Calcium?
4.5-5.5 mEq/ L
2.18-2.58 mmol/L
Normal serum concentration of Magnesium?
1.5 - 2.5 mEq/L
0.75-0.96 mmol/L
Normal serum concentration of Phosphate?
2.5- 4.5 mg/dL
0.8-1.5 mmol/L
What are routes of electrolyte intake?
- Orally and parentally
- Parental feeding via tubes
- Lungs (near drowning in salt water)
Through what routes are electrolytes excretions?
- Urine
- Diarrhea
- Swear
- Abnormal routes: emesis; ng suction; paracentesis; dyalsis; wound drainage; fistula drainage
Through what routes are electrolytes excretions?
- Urine
- Diarrhea
- Swear
- Abnormal routes: emesis; ng suction; paracentesis; dyalsis; wound drainage; fistula drainage
Sodium homeostasis is maintained by what organ?
Kidneys
What hormones are included in sodium homeostasis?
Aldosterone, ANP (Atrial natriuretic peptide), ADH (antidiuretic hormone)
Role of aldosterone
- Turns on sodium potassium pump
helps regulate your blood pressure by managing the levels of sodium (salt) and potassium in your blood and impacting blood volume.
What is hyponatremia?
Abnormally low sodium levels.
< 135 mmol/L
Clinical manifestations occurs most in acute or chronic hyponatremia?
Acute
Clinical; manifestations of hyponatremia
Cerebreal edema, headache, nausea, malaise, lethargy, decreased LOC, disorientration, depressed reflexes, muscle cramps
Treatment of hyponatremia
Water restriction. < 1L/d
What should you monitor when patient’s are being treated for hyponatremia?
- Monitor serum Na+ frequently to ensure correction is not too rapid
- Monitor urine output frequently (high output of urine is 1st sign of over-rapid correction)
What is the serum level of hypernatremia?
Abnormally high sodium. > 145 mmol/ L
Hypernatremia is what?
Too little water (net water loss)
What causes hyponatremia?
- Problems with water intake such as access and thirst
- Also water loss: renal (diuretics) or extrarenal (diarrhea, diaphoresis, respiratory loses), diabetes insipidus
Clinical manifestations of Hypernatremia?
- Due to brain cell shrinkage: altered mental status, weakness, neuromuscular irritability, focal neurological deficits, seizures, coma, death
- Thirst, polyuria (DI), clinical manifestations of hypovolemia (e.g., decreased skin turgor, dry mucus membranes, oliguria, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia)
How would you treat hypernatremia?
- Administer free water (oral or IV)
- Treat underlying cause
- Monitor serum Na+ to ensure correction is not too rapid
How much of potassium is stored intracellularly?
98%
