Fluids, Electrolytes, AKI, and Systemic Disorders Review

Comprehensive flashcards covering high-yield concepts from Fluids and Electrolytes, Respiratory, Cardiac, Renal, GI, Endocrine, and Musculoskeletal lecture notes.

Hypovolemia

Fluid volume deficit characterized by loss of extracellular fluid, resulting in decreased circulating blood volume, reduced tissue perfusion, and low cardiac output.

Tachycardia

An early assessment sign of fluid volume deficit that typically occurs before hypotension.

Daily weights

The most accurate and best indicator of a patient's overall fluid status.

Hypervolemia

Fluid volume excess where sodium and water retention leads to an overload within the intravascular volume, heart, and lungs.

Furosemide (Lasix)

A loop diuretic used for fluid overload; requires monitoring of potassium levels, blood pressure, and creatinine.

Hyponatremia

A serum sodium level below $135\,mEq/L$, carry the significant risk of seizures.

Hypernatremia

A serum sodium level above $145\,mEq/L$, often resulting in intense thirst and a dehydrated brain.

Hypokalemia

A potassium level below $3.5\,mEq/L$, which can lead to life-threatening dysrhythmias and the appearance of $U$ waves on an ECG.

Hyperkalemia

A potassium level above $5.0\,mEq/L$, characterized by peaked $T$ waves and a wide $QRS$ complex on an ECG.

Calcium gluconate

A medication used in hyperkalemia and hypermagnesemia to protect the heart and stabilize the cardiac membrane.

Chvostek sign

A clinical indicator of low calcium characterized by facial muscle twitching when the facial nerve is tapped.

Oliguria

A decrease in urine production, specifically defined as less than $400\,mL/day$ in Acute Kidney Injury.

Creatinine

The laboratory value considered the single best indicator of kidney function.

Kussmaul respirations

Deep, rapid breathing characteristic of metabolic acidosis, commonly seen in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).

Silent chest

A medical emergency in asthma where wheezing suddenly stops, indicating severe airway obstruction.

Peak Flow Meter Red Zone

A measurement of less than $50\%$ of a patient's personal best, indicating a medical emergency.

First Inhaler Rule

The clinical practice of administering a bronchodilator such as Albuterol before a steroid inhaler to open the airways.

Emphysema

A form of COPD involving the destruction of alveoli and air trapping, often leading to a barrel chest and the use of the tripod position.

Chronic Bronchitis

A respiratory condition characterized by an inflamed bronchi and a chronic productive cough with thick sputum.

Target O2 Saturation for COPD

The specific oxygen goal of $88-92\%$ to avoid worsening carbon dioxide retention.

Rifampin

A Tuberculosis medication that causes the expected side effect of orange-colored urine, tears, and sweat.

Isoniazid (INH)

A Tuberculosis medication that requires Vitamin $B6$ (Pyridoxine) supplementation to prevent peripheral neuropathy.

Troponin

The most specific laboratory marker used to diagnose myocardial injury or heart damage.

Nitroglycerin

A vasodilator used for chest pain that can cause headache and hypotension; it is contraindicated with erectile dysfunction medications.

Left-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure that causes blood to back up into the lungs, leading to crackles, dyspnea, and pink frothy sputum.

Right-Sided Heart Failure

Heart failure that causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation, leading to JVD, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly.

BNP

A laboratory test that, when elevated, serves as a specific marker for heart failure.

Digoxin toxicity

A condition characterized by nausea, bradycardia, and yellow/green halo vision; requires checking the apical pulse for $1$ full minute before administration.

Homans'-associated contraindication

The strict nursing priority to never massage a leg with a suspected Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

A life-threatening complication characterized by sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, and hypoxia, often following a DVT.

Hemoglobin A1C

A laboratory test representing average glucose control over $3$ months, with a diagnostic threshold of $\ge 6.5\%$ for diabetes.

DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis)

A Type 1 diabetes complication involving glucose $>250$, positive ketones, and metabolic acidosis.

HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State)

A Type 2 diabetes complication characterized by glucose $>600$, severe dehydration, and a lack of significant ketones.

Glargine (Lantus)

A long-acting insulin with no peak that should never be mixed with other insulins in the same syringe.

Standard Diabetic Foot Care

The practice of daily inspection, wearing shoes at all times, and avoiding heating pads to prevent ulcers/amputation.

Status Epilepticus

A continuous seizure lasting more than $5$ minutes, treated as a medical emergency often requiring Lorazepam (Ativan).

Presbycusis

Permanent, age-related sensorineural hearing loss that usually affects the ability to hear high-frequency sounds.

Weber Test

A hearing test where sound localizing to the affected ear indicates conductive loss, and sound localizing to the unaffected ear indicates sensorineural loss.

Rinne Test

A hearing assessment where a normal result is defined as Air Conduction being greater than Bone Conduction ($AC > BC$).

Snellen Eye Chart

A tool used to measure distance visual acuity, where $20/200$ indicates legal blindness.

Angle-closure glaucoma

A medical emergency characterized by sudden, severe eye pain, blurred vision, and halos around lights due to increased intraocular pressure.

Macular Degeneration

An eye disorder causing a progressive loss of central vision, while peripheral vision remains intact.

GERD Lifestyle Management

Recommendations including elevating the head of the bed, eating small meals, and avoiding lying flat for $2-3$ hours after eating.

Gastric Ulcer

A peptic ulcer where pain is typically aggravated by eating, often leading to weight loss.

Duodenal Ulcer

A peptic ulcer where pain is often relieved by food, only to return $2-3$ hours after a meal.

Skip lesions

The patchy pattern of transmural inflammation characteristic of Crohn Disease throughout the GI tract.

Ulcerative Colitis hallmark

Continuous inflammation limited to the colon and rectum, primarily causing bloody diarrhea and LLQ pain.

Celiac Disease

An autoimmune reaction to gluten that damages intestinal villi, requiring a lifelong diet free of wheat, barley, and rye.

Pyelonephritis

A kidney infection characterized by fever, chills, flank pain, and Costovertebral Angle (CVA) tenderness.

Pernicious Anemia

A Vitamin $B12$ deficiency caused by a lack of intrinsic factor, resulting in fatigue and neurologic symptoms like glossitis.

Compartment Syndrome

A surgical emergency where increased pressure in a limb causes pain out of proportion to the injury and the six $Ps$ (e.g., pallor, pulselessness).

Fat Embolism Syndrome

A complication occurring $24-72$ hours after a long bone fracture, marked by respiratory distress, confusion, and petechiae on the chest.

ABCDE Rule for Melanoma

A mnemonic for identifying skin cancer: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter $>6\,mm$, and Evolving.