Electrolytes

Question 1

Kalemias

Answer 1

• Kalemias do the same as the prefix except for Heart Rate and Urine Output
  
  • Hyperkalemia: Everything elevated
    
    • Except for Heart rate and Urine output (decreased)
    • Treatment (combine)
      
      • D5W/regular insulin (fastest, but temporary)
      • Kayexalate - sodium moves potassium out of cells (not as quick, but removes K+)
        
        • causes hypernatremia
  • Hypokalemia: Everything depressed
    
    • Except for Heart rate and Urine output (Increased)
• Never push
• Not more than 40 K+ per liter of IV fluid

Question 2

Calcemias

Answer 2

• Calcemias do the opposite of the prefix
  
  • Hypercalcemia: everything is depressed
  • Hypocalcemia: everything is elevated
    
    • Chvostek’s sign = cheek tap → facial spasm
    • Trousseau’s sign = BP cuff → carpal spasm

Question 3

Magnesemias

Answer 3

• Magnesemias do the opposite of the prefix
  
  • Hypermagnesemia: everything depressed
  • Hypomagnesemia: everything elevated

Question 4

Natremias

Answer 4

• HypErnatremia
  
  • dEhydration (dry skin, thready pulse, rapid HR)
• hypOnatremia
  
  • Overload (crackles, distended neck veins)

Question 5

Electrolyte rules

Answer 5

• If symptom involves nerve or skeletal muscle, pick Calcium
• For any other symptom, pick Potassium (generally related to BP)
• The earliest sign of any electrolyte disorder is _numbness & tinglin_g (paresthesias)
• The universal sign-symptom of electrolyte imbalance is muscle weakness (paresis)