Electrolyte Oopsies
This electrolyte imbalance commonly presents with muscle cramps and peaked T-waves.
What is hyperkalemia?
A normal pH range for arterial blood falls between these two numbers.
What is 7.35-7.45?
Creatinine 3.2 indicates failure of which organ?
What are the kidneys?
Hgb 6.8. What order do you expect?
What is a blood transfusion?
A steadily rising creatinine over several days can indicate this developing condition?
What is acute kidney injury?
This electrolyte, when severely low, can cause seizures due to cerebral swelling.
What is sodium?
Platelets 18,000. What precautions?
What are bleeding precautions (no IM injections, fall precautions, soft toothbrush)?
Elevated lipase points to pathology in this organ.
What are the pancreas?
A sodium of 118 with confusion requires initiation of these precautions.
What are seizure precautions?
A downward trend of platelets in a patient recently started on heparin can signal this dangerous complication?
What is HIT? (Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia)
A patient with tingling and positive Chvostek’s sign is likely experiencing a low level of this electrolyte.
What is calcium?
High neutrophils (neutrophilia) usually indicate what?
What is a bacterial infection?
High TSH with low T3/T4 indicates dysfunction in this gland.
What is the thyroid gland?
Hgb drops from 10 → 6 in 4 hours. First thought?
What is active bleeding/hemorrhage?
What lab patterns are expected in DIC?
What is high PT/PTT, low fibrinogen, low platelets, elevated D‑dimer?
This electrolyte, when elevated, is known for causing diminished or absent reflexes.
What is magnesium?
Which ABG value tells you about oxygenation?
What is PaO₂?
An elevated BNP is most commonly associated with this organ’s failure.
What is the heart?
Lactate = 5.2. What could this indicate?
What is sepsis?
A patient's troponin levels rise from 0.04 to 0.12 to 0.38 over three hours. This upward trend can indicate what acute disease process?
What is myocardial infarction (MI)?
Phos = 6.5. This lab level is commonly seen in what condition?
What is renal failure?
A normal lactate should be below this value; higher levels may indicate sepsis.
What is 2mmol/L?
Elevated CK (creatine kinase) suggests damage to this type of tissue.
What is muscle?
pH 7.25 / CO₂ 28 / HCO₃ 14 — What type of acidosis?
What is Metabolic acidosis?
A downward trend in serum albumin over days can indicate this nutritional concern.
What is malnutrition or protein deficiency?