Week 6: Electrolytes

Question 1

What are electrolytes?

Answer 1

Ionized salts (cations or anios)

Question 2

Do electrolytes dissolve in water?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

Normal serum concentration of Sodium?

Answer 3

135-145 mEq/L

135-145 mmol/ L

Question 4

Normal serum concentration of Potassium?

Answer 4

3.5- 5.0 mEq/ L
3.5-5.50 mmol/ L

Question 5

Normal serum concentration of Calcium?

Answer 5

4.5-5.5 mEq/ L
2.18-2.58 mmol/L

Question 6

Normal serum concentration of Magnesium?

Answer 6

1.5 - 2.5 mEq/L
0.75-0.96 mmol/L

Question 7

Normal serum concentration of Phosphate?

Answer 7

2.5- 4.5 mg/dL
0.8-1.5 mmol/L

Question 8

What are routes of electrolyte intake?

Answer 8

• Orally and parentally
• Parental feeding via tubes
• Lungs (near drowning in salt water)

Question 9

Through what routes are electrolytes excretions?

Answer 9

• Urine
• Diarrhea
• Swear
• Abnormal routes: emesis; ng suction; paracentesis; dyalsis; wound drainage; fistula drainage

Question 9

Through what routes are electrolytes excretions?

Answer 9

• Urine
• Diarrhea
• Swear
• Abnormal routes: emesis; ng suction; paracentesis; dyalsis; wound drainage; fistula drainage

Question 10

Sodium homeostasis is maintained by what organ?

Answer 10

Kidneys

Question 11

What hormones are included in sodium homeostasis?

Answer 11

Aldosterone, ANP (Atrial natriuretic peptide), ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

Question 12

Role of aldosterone

Answer 12

• 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.

Question 13

What is hyponatremia?

Answer 13

Abnormally low sodium levels.
< 135 mmol/L

Question 14

Clinical manifestations occurs most in acute or chronic hyponatremia?

Answer 14

Acute

Question 15

Clinical; manifestations of hyponatremia

Answer 15

Cerebreal edema, headache, nausea, malaise, lethargy, decreased LOC, disorientration, depressed reflexes, muscle cramps

Question 16

Treatment of hyponatremia

Answer 16

Water restriction. < 1L/d

Question 17

What should you monitor when patient’s are being treated for hyponatremia?

Answer 17

• 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)

Question 18

What is the serum level of hypernatremia?

Answer 18

Abnormally high sodium. > 145 mmol/ L

Question 19

Hypernatremia is what?

Answer 19

Too little water (net water loss)

Question 20

What causes hyponatremia?

Answer 20

• Problems with water intake such as access and thirst
• Also water loss: renal (diuretics) or extrarenal (diarrhea, diaphoresis, respiratory loses), diabetes insipidus

Question 21

Clinical manifestations of Hypernatremia?

Answer 21

• 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)

Question 22

How would you treat hypernatremia?

Answer 22

• Administer free water (oral or IV)
• Treat underlying cause
• Monitor serum Na+ to ensure correction is not too rapid

Question 23

How much of potassium is stored intracellularly?

Answer 23

98%

Question 24

What is serum levels of Hypokalemia?