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Articles and journal scans about Electrolytes
Article
July 2009
Clinical aspects of the anion gap
The anion gap (AG) is a calculated parameter derived from measured serum/plasma electrolyte concentrations. The clinical value of this calculated parameter is the main focus of this article.
Both increased and reduced anion gap have clinical significance, but the deviation from normal that has most clinical...
Electrolytes
Blood gases/acid-base
Glucose
Lactate
Creatinine/urea
Kidneys/fluids
Journal Scan
June 2009
Hypernatremia acquired during critical illness
The incidence and significance of hypernatremia (raised plasma sodium) acquired during critical illness is the subject of a recently published retrospective study conducted at the combined medical and surgical intensive care unit of a Brisbane hospital where plasma sodium of all patients is regularly monitored...
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
January 2009
Plasma sodium concentration in the critically ill
Over a third of patients admitted to intensive care develop hypernatremia (raised serum sodium concentration) or hyponatremia (reduced plasma sodium concentration) within a few days of admission. Both hypo- and hypernatremia acquired after admission prolong hospital stay and decrease chance of survival.
These are the ...
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
January 2009
EDTA contamination - a cause of spurious hyperkalemia that can go undetected
The anticoagulant potassium ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid (K+ EDTA) is present in sample tubes used to collect samples for full blood count (FBC) and some other tests. However, the anticoagulant has the effect of markedly increasing plasma potassium concentration and reducing plasma calcium, magnesium and zinc...
Preanalytical phase
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
October 2008
Reliability of point of care potassium measurement confirmed
Blood gas analysis has been performed at the point of care for well
over 20 years and is sufficiently established for clinicians to
have no misgivings about using pH, pCO2 and
pO2 results obtained at the point of care for
direct patient management.
Modern blood gas analyzers now have the
capacity to measure not only...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
January 2008
Pathogenesis and treatment of hyponatremia
Reduced plasma sodium concentration (hyponatremia), the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients, is the subject of a recently published review. Disordered secretion of the pituitary hormone vasopressin (alternative name, antidiuretic hormone ADH) is central to the pathogenesis of hyponatremia for...
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
October 2007
IV fluid induced hyponatremia
Hospitalized patients are frequently prescribed parenteral fluids and in most instances these are hypotonic (e.g. 0.18 % NaCl in 5 % dextrose). Controversy surrounds the routine use of hypotonic parenteral fluids because they can cause hyponatremia (reduced plasma sodium concentration), which if sufficiently severe...
Electrolytes
Article
July 2007
Ionized calcium
Homeostatic mechanisms ensure that in health the
extracellular fluid (ECF) concentration of electrolytes, including
calcium, is maintained within well-defined limits. Abnormality in
ECF calcium concentration can have profound adverse effects.
The
most common means of assessing calcium status is to measure total...
Preanalytical phase
Electrolytes
Lactate
Hemoglobins
Kidneys/fluids
Journal Scan
June 2007
Direct ISE versus indirect ISE plasma sodium measurement in the critically ill
Plasma sodium and chloride concentration are routinely measured using either a direct or indirect ion-specific electrode (ISE). Direct ISE is the technique employed in blood gas and most other point-of-care analyzers whereas indirect ISE is used in the majority of biochemistry profiling analyzers sited in central...
Electrolytes
Point-of-care testing
Journal Scan
March 2007
Critical values for sodium estimation
Clinical laboratories should have a policy mandating staff
involved in analysis of patient samples to convey critical results
to clinical staff urgently, usually by telephone. A critical result
has been defined as a result "at such variance with normal as
to be life threatening, unless something is done promptly, and...
Process optimization
Electrolytes