Advanced Concepts of Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalance

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering fluid volume status, causes and treatments of fluid imbalance, and normal electrolyte ranges based on the CNUR 305 lecture notes.

Adult Water Content

Adults are composed of approximately $60\%$ water.

1L of Water Weight

$1\,L$ of water is equal to $1\,kg$ or $2.2\,lbs$.

Hypovolemia

Low circulating volume in vessels resulting from the loss of $Na^+$ or water/blood.

Second Spacing

Edema; characterized by excess fluid in the interstitial spaces.

Third Spacing

Collection of fluid in serous spaces (e.g., ascites in liver failure, peritonitis, pancreatitis) due to altered capillary membrane permeability caused by tissue injury, ischemia, or pressure changes.

Albumin

An IV Colloid used in fluid resuscitation that increases oncotic pressure, pulling fluid from the interstitial space to the intravascular space.

Isotonic Crystalloids

IV fluids used for resuscitation such as $NS$ (Normal Saline) and $RL$ (Ringer's Lactate).

Hypotonic Crystalloids

The IV fluid $0.45\% NS$ used in fluid resuscitation management.

Hypertonic Crystalloids

IV fluids used for resuscitation such as $D10W$ and $3\% NS$.

Hyponatremia

A condition where sodium levels are less than $135\,mmol/L$ ($Na < 135\,mmol/L$).

Hypernatremia

A condition where sodium levels are greater than $145\,mmol/L$ ($Na > 145\,mmol/L$).

Normal Sodium (Na+)

A laboratory range of $136-145\,mmol/L$.

Normal Potassium (K+)

A laboratory range of $3.5-5.1\,mmol/L$.

Normal Calcium (total)

A laboratory range of $2.10-2.50\,mmol/L$.

Normal Phosphate

A laboratory range of $1.0-1.5\,mmol/L$.

Normal Magnesium

A laboratory range of $0.65-1.05\,mmol/L$.

Cations

Positively charged particles ($+$) dissolved and dispersed throughout the body, such as $Na^+$, $K^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, and $Mg^{2+}$.

Anions

Negatively charged particles ($-$) dissolved and dispersed throughout the body, such as $Cl^-$, $HCO_3^-$, $PO_4^{3-}$, and Protein.