Electrolytes & Acid-Base
Normal serum potassium range.
What is 3.5–5.0 mEq/L?
Best first fluid for a hypotensive trauma patient arriving in the ER.
What is an isotonic crystalloid (0.9% sodium chloride)?
Normal arterial blood pH range.
What is 7.35–7.45?
First chemical mediator released in an allergic reaction.
What is histamine?
Mode of transmission for TB.
What is airborne (droplet nuclei)?
Classic ECG finding of hyperkalemia.
What are peaked T waves?
Key nursing monitoring needed when giving 3% saline.
What is frequent neurologic checks and serial serum sodium levels?
A change from restlessness to drowsiness/confusion in a respiratory patient often signals this.
What is worsening respiratory failure (hypoxemia or hypercapnia)?
This medication is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis and should be administered promptly, typically by the IM route into the anterolateral thigh.
What is epinephrine?
Most common cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States.
What is lung cancer?
Two classic signs of hypocalcemia.
What are Chvostek’s and Trousseau’s signs?
Why rapid correction of hyponatremia is dangerous.
What is it can cause: osmotic demyelination/neurologic injury?
“Quiet chest” in a severe asthma or COPD patient is a danger sign for this.
What is impending respiratory failure?
Why epinephrine is given immediately in anaphylaxis instead of waiting for antihistamines.
What is anaphylaxis can progress within minutes?
Primary risk factor responsible for the majority of lung cancer cases.
What is cigarette smoking?
Primary treatment for severe hypomagnesemia.
What is IV magnesium sulfate?
What happens to D5W after the dextrose is metabolized by the body.
What is it becomes hypotonic (acts as free water)?
pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 28, HCO₃ 23, PaO₂ 96
What is uncompensated respiratory alkalosis?
This common allergic skin reaction presents as raised, itchy welts. mild reaction
What is urticaria (hives)?
This chronic pulmonary disease involves destruction of alveolar walls and loss of elastic recoil.
What is emphysema?
pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 58, HCO₃ 24, PaO₂ 60
What is uncompensated respiratory acidosis with hypoxemia?
Advantage of LR over plain Normal Saline in many resuscitation situations.
What is it more closely matches the electrolyte composition of plasma (contains lactate, potassium, calcium)?
Normal PaCO₂ range.
What is 35–45 mm Hg?
This term describes swelling of the deeper layers of the skin, commonly affecting the lips, face, and tongue.
What is angioedema?
Sudden dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, tachycardia, and hypoxemia should raise suspicion for this pulmonary vascular emergency.
What is a pulmonary embolism?