Electrolyte imbalances conditions resulting

An arrhythmia may occur as a result of heart disease or from a disorder that affects cardiovascular function. Conditions such as emotional stress, hypoxia, and electrolyte imbalance also may trigger an arrhythmia An electrocardiogram (ECG) provides a record of the electrical activity of the heart. Careful interpretation of the ECG along with a thorough physical assessment is necessary to determine the cause and type of arrhythmia The goal of antiarrhythmic drug therapy is to restore normal cardiac function and to prevent life-threatening arrhythmias. 

Conditions Resulting in Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Imbalances 185... 

Fluids and Electrolytes Demystified is a detailed, easy-to-understand overview of the concepts it focuses on the information that students need most to understand the conditions that result in fluid and electrolyte imbalances. The book emphasizes the most critical information in fluids and electrolytes by discussing the underlying mechanisms involved in maintaining fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance and by discussing the factors that fail and result in an imbalance. 

Most conditions will cause an imbalance in more than just electrolytes. Fluid imbalance will follow certain electrolyte imbalances, and acid-base imbalance will result from certain electrolyte imbalances. As stated in previous chapters, acid-base... 

Abnormal electrolyte concentrations in blood serum can indicate the presence of disease. The ion concentrations that vary as a result of disease are Na+, K+, Cl , and HCO J. Sodium ion concentration is a good indicator of the water balance between blood and tissue cells. Unusual potassium ion levels can indicate kidney or gastrointestinal problems. Chloride ion is the anion that balances the positive charge of the sodium ion in the fluid outside the cells. It also diffuses into a cell to maintain normal electrolyte balance when hydrogen carbonate ions diffuse out of the cell into the blood. Table IB shows medical conditions associated with electrolyte imbalances. 

The integral part that endocrine glands and their hormones play in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance provides a clear basis why dysfunction in these glands would result in fluid, electrolyte, or acid-base imbalances. Three conditions will be bighligbted here to indicate this point. 

Many conditions, particularly those affecting ADH, can result in imbalances in fluids, electrolytes, and acid-base. Conditions can affect more than one system and result in more than one imbalance. The nurse can anticipate some imbalances based... 

The use of silver nitrate and colloidal silver in wounds dates from the mid-nineteenth century and the term oligodynamic was applied to the antimicrobial action of heavy metals diluted in water [9]. Over the years, attempts to put silver in contact with wounds produced a number of electrolytic methods [9] as well as use of solutions of silver nitrate, in this case as late as 1965 [16]. However, the imbalance of sodium, potassium and chloride caused by silver nitrate in these cases was unsatisfactory due to the number of resulting side effects. These include in some cases methemoglobinemia from reduction of nitrate to nitrite. In 1968, a complex (AgSD) formed from a sulfonamide and silver was introduced in attempts to combine the oligodynamic action of the heavy metal with the antibacterial effect of the sulfonamide [17]. The insoluble product, which is used as a 1% cream, has suitable properties and excellent wide spectrum antibacterial activity, and is used worldwide for burn prophylaxis and other infectious skin conditions [9]. Side effects are few, the major one being leukopenia. The properties and mode of action of AgSD have been reviewed [9,18]. 

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