• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
ELECTROLYTE IMBALANCESSigns and symptoms of a fluid and electrolyte imbalance are often subtle blood chemistry testshelp diagnose and evaluate electrolyte imbalance.ELECTROLYTEIMBALANCESSIGNS AND SYMPTOMSDIAGNOSTICTEST RESULTSHYPONATREMIA*Muscle twitching andweakness due to osmoticswelling of cells*Lethargy, confusion,seizures,and coma due toaltered neurotransmission*Hypertension and tachycardiadue to decreased extracellular circulating volume*Nausea,vomiting, andabdominal cramps due to edemaaffecting receptors in the brainor vomiting center of the brain stem*Oliguria or anuria due to renaldysfunction*Serum sodium <135 mEa/l*Decreased urine specific gravity*Decreased serum osmalality*Urine sodium > 100 mEq/24 hours*Increased red blood cell countHYPERNATREMIA*Agitation, restlessness, fever,and decreased level of consciousness due to alteredcellular metabolism*Hypertension, tachycardia, pitting edema, and excessiveweight gain due to water shiftfrom intracellular toextracellular fluid*Thirst, increased viscosity of saliva, rough tongue due to fluidshift*Dyspnea, respiratory arrest,and death from dramaticincrease in in osmotic pressure*Serum sodium > 145 mEq/l*Urine sodium <40 mEq/24 hours*High serum osmolalityHYPOKALEMIA*Dizziness, hypotension,arrhythmias, electrocardiogram(ECG) changes, and cardiacarrest due to changes inmembrane excitability*Serum potassium < 3.5 mEq/l*coexisting low serum calciumand magnesium levels notresponsive to treatment for hypokalemia usually suggest hypomagnesemiawww.meejuru.com
 
*Nausea, vomiting, anorexia,diarrhea, decreased peristalsis,and abdominal distention due todecreased bowel motility*Muscle weakness, fatigue, andleg cramps due to decreasedneuromuscular excitability*metabolic alkalosis*ECG changes include flattenedWaves, elevated U waves,Depressed ST segmentHYPERKALEMIA*Tachycardia changing to bradycardia,ECG changes, andcardiac arrest due tohypopolarization and alterationsin repolarization*Nausea, diarrhea, andabdominal cramps due todecreased gastric motility*Muscle weakness and flaccid paralysis due to inactivation of membrane sodium channels*Serum potassium > 5mEq./l*Metabolic acidosis*ECG changes include tentedand elevated T waves, widenedQRS complex, prolonged PR interval, flattenedor absent P waves, depressedST segmentHYPOCHLOREMIA*Muscle hypertonicity andtetany*Shallow, depressed breathing*Usually associated withhyponatremia and itscharacteristic symptoms, suchas muscle weakness andtwitching*Serum chloride <98 mEq/l*Serum pH > 7.45 (supportive value)*Serum CO2 >32 mEq/l(supportive value)HYPERCHLOREMIA*Deep, rapid breathing*Weakness*Diminished cognitive ability, possibly leading to coma*Serum chloride > 108 mEq/l*Serum pH < 7.35, serum CO2<22 mEq/l (Supportive values)HYPOCALCEMIA*Anxiety, irritability, twitchingaround themouth,laryngospasm,seizures,Chvostek's and Trousseau'ssigns due to enhancedneuromuscular irritability*Hypotension and arrhthmeasdue to decreased calcium influx*Serum calcium <8.5 mg/dl*Low platelet count*ECG shows lengthened QTinterval, prolonged ST segment,arrhythmias*Possible changes in serum protein because half of serumcalcium is bound to albuminHYPERCALCEMIA*Drowsiness, lethargy,headaches, irritability,confusion, depression, or apathy*Serum calcium > 10.5 mg/dl*ECG shows signs of heart block and shortened QT interval
 
due to decreased neuromuscular irritability ( increased threshold)*Weakness and muscleflaccidity due to depressedneuromuscular irritability andrelease of acetylcholine of themyonearal junction*Bone pain and pathologicalfractures due to calcium lossfrom bones*Heart block due to decreasedneuromuscular irritability*Anorexia, nausea, Vomiting,constipation, and dehydrationdue to kidney stone formation*Azotemia*Decreased parathyroidhormone level*Sulkowitch urine test showsincreased calcium precipitationHYPOMAGNESEMIA*Nearly always coexists withhypokalemia and hypocalcemia*Hyperirritability, tetany, legand foot cramps, positiveChvostek's and Trousseau's signsconfusion in neuromuscular transmission*Arrhythmias, vasodilation, andhypotension due to enhancedinward sodium current or concurrent effects of calciumand potassium imbalance*Serum magnesium < 1.5 mEq/l*Coexisting low serum potassium and calcium levelsHYPERMAGNESEMIA*Hypermagnesemia isuncommon, caused bydecreased renal excretion (renalfailure) or increased intake of magnesium*Diminished reflexes, muscleweakness to flaccid paralysisdue to suppression of acetylcholinerelease of the myoneural junction, blocking cell excitability*respiratory distress secondaryto respiratory muscle paralysis*Heart block, bradycordia dueto decreasedinward sodium current*Hypotension due to relaxationof vascular smooth muscle andreduction of vascular wall surface*Serum magnesium > 2.5 mEq/l*Coexisting elevated potassiumand calcium levels
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...