Disturbances In Water Electrolyte And Acid Base Balance Short Essays

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Disturbances In Water Electrolyte And Acid Base Balance Important Notes

  1. Metabolic acidosis and alkalosisDisturbances In Water Electrolyte And Acid Base Balance Metabolic Acidosis And Alkalosis
  2. Dehydration
    • It is the loss of water from the body
    • Clinical features
      • Thirst
      • Dry mouth
      • Dizziness
      • Dysphagia
      • Muscular weakness
      • Oliguria
      • Mental confusion
  3. Hypokalaemia
    • Depletion of potassium from the body
    • Clinical features
      • Generalized muscular weakness
      • Depression of tendon reflexes
      • Confusion
      • Coma
      • Paraesthesia
      • Muscle stiffness
      • Polyuria
      • Nocturia
  4. Hyperkalaemia
    • A marked increase in potassium content
    • Clinical features
      • Cardiac arrest
      • Irregular pulse
      • Flaccid paralysis
      • Abdominal distension
  5. Hyponatraemia
    • It is the loss of sodium from the body
    • Clinical features
      • Lassitude
      • Hypotension
      • Tachycardia
      • Reduced skin elasticity
      • Apathy
      • Weakness
      • Coma
      • Oliguria

Disturbances In Water Electrolyte And Acid Base Balance Short Essays

Question 1. Dehydration

Answer:

Dehydration

  • Dehydration is the primary water depletion

Aetiology:

  • Decreased intake of water
  • Increased loss from the skin
  • Increased respiratory loss
  • Increased loss in urine

Clinical Features:

  • Marked thirst
  • Muscle weakness
  • Dry mouth
  • Mental confusion
  • Coma
  • Intracranial haemorrhage
  • Tachycardia

Investigations:

  • Increased blood urea level
  • Raised plasma sodium
  • Urine specific gravity of more than 1.010
  • Polyuria

Treatment:

  • Administration of isotonic saline

Question 2. Hypokalaemia

Answer:

Hypokalaemia

  • A decrease in the concentration of serum potassium is called hypokalaemia

Causes:

  • Overactivity of the adrenal cortex
  • Prolonged cortisone therapy
  • Intravenous administration of potassium-free fluids
  • Treatment of diabetic coma with insulin
  • Prolonged diarrhoea and vomiting

Read And Learn More: General Medicine Question and Answers

Symptoms:

  • Irritability
  • Muscular weakness
  • Tachycardia
  • Cardiomegaly
  • Cardiac arrest

ECG Changes:

  • Flattening of waves
  • Inverted T wave

Question 3. Respiratory alkalosis

Answer:

Respiratory alkalosis

  • Excessive loss of carbon dioxide leads to respiratory alkalosis

Aetiology:

  • Hysterical over breathing
  • Lobar pneumonia
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Meningitis
  • Salicylate poisoning
  • Hepatic failure

Features:

  • Fall in partial pressure of carbon dioxide and hydrogen ion concentration
  • Decreased plasma bicarbonate level
  • Paraesthesia
  • Numbness
  • Tingling sensation

Treatment:

  • Elimination of underlying disorder
  • Sedation.

Disturbances In Water Electrolyte And Acid Base Balance Nervous System

Question 4. Hyperkalaemia

Answer:

Hyperkalaemia

  • An increase in the concentration of serum potassium is called hyperkalaemia

Causes:

  • Impaired excretion
  • Excessive intake
  • Tissue breakdown
  • The shift of potassium ions out of the cell

Clinical Features:

  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Muscular weakness
  • Respiratory depression

Investigations:

  • ECG Changes:
  • Tall T waves
  • Prolongation of PR interval
  • Reduced height of P wave
  • Prolongation of QRS complex

Treatment:

  • Elimination of the underlying cause
  • 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate solution is given intravenously slowly over 5-10 min
  • Intravenous administration of glucose along with insulin
  • Intravenous administration of 50-100 ml of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate
  • Nebulization of beta-agonists

Disturbances In Water Electrolyte And Acid Base Balance Short Answers

Question 1. Hyponatraemia

Answer:

Hyponatraemia

  • It indicates the dilution of body fluids by excess water relative to total solute

Aetiology:

  • Increased ECF volume- congestive cardiac failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis of the liver
  • Reduced ECF volume- sweating, vomiting, diarrhoea
  • Hyperglycaemia
  • Mannitol administration

Clinical Features:

  • Muscle cramps
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Mental confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Coma
  • Convulsions

Treatment:

  • Administration of loop diuretics and hypertonic saline

Question 2. Metabolic acidosis

Answer:

Metabolic acidosis

  • It is a reduction in bicarbonate concentration which leads to a fall in blood pH

Metabolic acidosis Causes:

  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Renal failure
  • Lactic acidosis
  • Severe diarrhoea
  • Renal tubular acidosis

Metabolic acidosis Treatment:

  • Hyperventilation of lungs
  • This decreases the partial pressure of carbon dioxide

Question 3. Oral rehydration

Answer:

Oral rehydration

  • Oral rehydration solution is used in patients with diarrhoea to replenish the lost water

Oral rehydration Composition:

  • NaCl -3.5 g
  • KCl -1.5 g
  • Trisodium citrate -2.9 g
  • Glucose -20 2
  • Water -1 litre

Oral rehydration Uses:

  • To replace fluids and salts lost from the body during diarrhoea
  • To restore and maintain hydration
  • Maintain electrolyte and pH balance
  • Maintain hydration in patients postsurgically after burns, trauma, and heat stroke

VIVA VOCE

Oral rehydration salts are – sodium chloride, bicarbonate, and glucose

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