Week 6-7 - ECC Flashcards
Potassium mainly resides (inside/outside) the cell.
Potassium mainly resides INSIDE the cell.
Potassium is mainly responsible for maintenance of _____________.
resting membrane potentials
Signs of hyper and hypo-kalemia tend to be ________ or __________.
cardiac or neuromuscular
(Hyper/Hypo)-kalemia is an EMERGENCY due to __________
Hyperkalemia,
Potassium supplementation should be done at a (slow/fast) rate to ensure safety.
SLOW
Intracellular cation = _____
Extracellular cation = _____
Intra = Potassium, K+
Extra = Sodium, Na+
Normal PLASMA [K+] is _______ mEq/L
Is [K+] slightly higher in serum or plasma?
3-5 mEq/L
[K+] is higher in SERUM
How is potassium eliminated?
Potassium elimination by the kidney – enhanced by aldosterone.
What CAUSES HYPERkalemia? (3)
- inadequate excretion
-kidney failure, esp. acute
-post-renal causes = inability to physically eliminate potassium
–urethral/ureteral obx
–ruptured urinary tract with urine accumulation in cavity
-Addison’s disease
-Chronic body cavity effusions - Excessive intake: iatrogenic - never from diet/orally
- Shift from intracellular site: crushing or reperfusion injury
When is HYPERkalemia a concern?
[K+] ≥ 6.0 is a concern, just outside the interval
What generalized issues can hyperkalemia cause?
cause neuromuscular signs such as weakness, but these signs are usually overshadowed by importance
of the cardiac arrhythmia
so neuromuscular and cardio signs
IT IS AN EMERGENCY
What are the 5 EKG changes for HYPERkalemia? see Lecture 48-49, slide 8
- Tall, tented T waves
- Loss of P waves, with bradycardia
- Slowing of heart rate
- Widening of QRS complex
- Asystole or ventricular fibrillation: non-circulatory
rhythms (death)
How do you TREAT HYPERkalemia?
- Cardioprotection: IV Calcium gluconate
-Does not drop plasma [K+]!!!
-Ca resets resting potential -> BUYS time to do other things - Elimination: IV fluid therapy
-Increases GFR, leads to renal K+ elimination
-still give fluids therapy to patient with urethral obx as it will also dilute the [K] – and also quickly deal w obx
-also helps with dehydration - Drugs to shift K+ into cells (and push Na+
-Dextrose, +/- insulin - only give insulin if NOT hypoglycemic already
–when glucose is shuttled into a cell, a K goes with it
-Sodium bicarbonate – efficacy questioned, try to use only if metabolic acidosis (acidemia/acidosis)
-Terbutaline, other sympathomimetics - harness sodium potassium ATPase - makes it run faster
What causes Pseudohyperkalemia?
-false increase in potassium concentration on bloodwork
-lab error
- thrombocytosis (only in serum sample that has allowed to clot)
-Platelet degranulation leads to K+ release into serum
-thus a serum-to-plasma difference in [K+] - Hemolysis in Japanese Breeds (Akita, Shiba Inus)
-Na-K ATPase on RBCs, so hemolysis during blood sampling or handling causes pseudohyperkalemia
What CAUSES HYPOkalemia?
not as life threatening as HYPERkalemia
essentially anything that causes PU/PD
- Kidney failure, especially chronic (CKD)
- Diuretics, many other causes of PU/PD such as DM
- Diarrhea, vomiting, decreased intake
- Toxin – beta agonist (rare)
CS of HYPOkalemia
- Muscle weakness
-CERVICAL VENTROFLEXION is classic - can’t hold head up, but still looking around with the eyes
-can be generalized
-Can cause hypoventilation requiring IPPV (rare) - mechanical ventilation – this is the EMERGENCY of hypokalemia - ECG changes:
-Diminished T waves, tall P waves
How do you TREAT HYPOkalemia
-very common but NOT usually an emergency
- Supplement with IV potassium in fluids
-If very severe, can use concentrated potassium solutions
-potassium is FATAL if you injected FAST, so concentrated K+ solutions only given by highly trained - Treat underling disease process
-Reduce diuresis if possible (such as better glycemic control in DM) - If severe, magnesium supplementation may be required
What is the maximum rate for potassium supplementation?
Kmax = 0.5 mEq/kg/hr
has to be spread over the entire hour
will only exceed it based on continuous EKG and have arrhythmia
The (ionized/unionized) fraction of Ca++ accounts for most of its biochemical activity
IONIZED = unbound = active Calcium
bc Ca++ sticks to albumin and then doesn’t do much when bound
no reliable relationship between ionized and total calcium concentrations
Ca++ abnormalities CAN be emergencies
Calcium is involved in what?
- coagulation
- heart rhythm
- muscle contraction
What is the normal reference interval for Ca++?
Ionized: 1.1-1.45 mmol/L
Total: 9-11 mmol/L
What CAUSES HYPOcalcemia?
-more common as emergency condition
- “Eclampsia” (“puerperal tetany” or “puerperal hypocalcemia”)
-dogs
-seen only in female bc peri-natal issues
-no blood pressure issues, systemic other issues – just the Ca++ issues - Chronic kidney disease – high phosphorous state
-can’t eliminate phosphorus bc GFR is bad
-decrease in Calcitriol
-decrease in Ca++ resorption - so end up with HYPOcalcemia (not really seen in AKD) - Pancreatitis
- Critical illness - most likely from acid base abnormalities
- Iatrogenic –
-blood transfusion - blood has anticoagulant, binds Ca++
-sodium bicarbonate therapy (base) – leads to alkalization of blood, H+ come off albumin to normalize pH, thus more room on albumin molecules for Ca++
CS of Hypocalcemia
- None if Mild
-Clinical signs uncommon until iCa++ ≤ 0.8 mmol/L
-rare
-lethargic - Moderate = facial pruritus/rubbing, muscle tremors /“tetany”
- Severe = Seizure, obtundation,
What is ECLAMPSIA?
-Post-partum hypocalcemia
-Associated with greatest lactation demand: just prior to weaning
–not usually seen at parturition
-Smaller breeds, more or larger puppies