Nokea
The patient’s potassium level is 0 mEq/L. Besides dialysis, which of the following actually reduces plasma potassium levels and total body potassium content safely in a patient with renal dysfunction?
- A. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
- B. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate with sorbitol
- C. Regular insulin
- D. Calcium gluconate
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate. It works by exchanging sodium ions for potassium ions in the colon, leading to potassium excretion. A is the safest option without the risk of causing hypernatremia or intestinal necrosis like B. Regular insulin (C) may cause hypoglycemia and is not as effective as A in reducing potassium levels. Calcium gluconate (D) does not directly reduce potassium levels and is used for treating hyperkalemia-related cardiac toxicity.
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Which of the following laboratory values would be more common in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis?
- A. Blood glucose >1000 mg/dL
- B. Negative ketones in the urine
- C. Normal anion gap
- D. pH 7.24
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A (Blood glucose >1000 mg/dL) because diabetic ketoacidosis is characterized by severe hyperglycemia. High blood glucose levels (>1000 mg/dL) are common due to insulin deficiency leading to increased glucose production.
B: Negative ketones in the urine would be incorrect as DKA results in ketone production, leading to ketonuria.
C: Normal anion gap would be incorrect as DKA typically presents with an elevated anion gap metabolic acidosis due to ketone accumulation.
D: pH 7.24 would be incorrect as DKA would present with a lower pH due to metabolic acidosis.
A patient with a history of type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder is found unconscious. In the emergency department, the following lab values are obtained: Glucose: 648 mg/dL pH: 88 P CO : 20 mm Hg a 2 P O : 95 mm Hg a 2 HCO ¯: undetectable Anion gap: >31 Na+: 127 mEq/L K+: 5 mEq/L Creatinine: 8 mg/dL After the patient’s airway and ventilation have been established, the next priority for this patient is:
- A. administration of a 1-L normal saline fluid bolus.
- B. administration of 0.1 unit of regular insulin IV push followed by an insulin infusion.
- C. administration of 20 mEq KCl in 100 mL.
- D. IV push administration of 1 amp of sodium bicarbonate.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: administration of a 1-L normal saline fluid bolus. In this scenario, the patient is likely experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) due to the extremely high glucose levels, low bicarbonate, and anion gap metabolic acidosis. The priority is to correct the dehydration and electrolyte imbalances through fluid resuscitation with normal saline to improve perfusion and reverse the metabolic derangements. Options B, C, and D do not address the immediate need for volume resuscitation and correction of dehydration. Administering insulin or potassium without first addressing the fluid deficit could lead to further complications. Sodium bicarbonate is not recommended in DKA as it can worsen acidosis and has not been shown to improve outcomes.
The patient is getting hemodialysis for the second time when he complains of a headache and nausea and, a little later, of becoming confused. The nurse realizes these are symptoms of
- A. dialyzer membrane incompatibility.
- B. a shift in potassium levels.
- C. dialysis disequilibrium syndrome.
- D. hypothermia.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: dialysis disequilibrium syndrome. This syndrome occurs when there is a rapid shift in electrolytes, especially in the brain, due to the removal of waste products during hemodialysis. The symptoms of headache, nausea, and confusion align with this syndrome as the brain struggles to adjust to the changes. Dialyzer membrane incompatibility (A) is unlikely as it typically presents with allergic reactions, not neurological symptoms. A shift in potassium levels (B) may cause symptoms like muscle weakness or irregular heartbeat, not headache and confusion. Hypothermia (D) would present with low body temperature, shivering, and confusion, but in this case, the symptoms are more indicative of dialysis disequilibrium syndrome.
The patient is in need of immediate hemodialysis, but has no vascular access. The nurse prepares the patient for insertion of
- A. a percutaneous catheter at the bedside.
- B. a percutaneous tunneled catheter at the bedside.
- C. an arteriovenous fistula.
- D. an arteriovenous graft.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: a percutaneous catheter at the bedside. In this urgent situation, a percutaneous catheter can be quickly inserted at the bedside to provide immediate vascular access for hemodialysis. This option allows for rapid initiation of treatment without the need for surgical placement or waiting for a more permanent access like an arteriovenous fistula or graft.
Incorrect Choices:
B: A percutaneous tunneled catheter may require more time for insertion due to tunneling and may not be suitable for immediate use.
C: An arteriovenous fistula is a more permanent access created surgically and requires time to mature before being used for hemodialysis.
D: An arteriovenous graft is also a surgical option that requires time to heal and mature before being used for hemodialysis.
The patient is admitted with complaints of general malaise and fatigue, along with a decreased urinary output. The patient’s urinalysis shows coarse, muddy brown granular casts and hematuria. The nurse determines that the patient has:
- A. acute kidney injury from a prerenal condition.
- B. acute kidney injury from postrenal obstruction.
- C. intrarenal disease, probably acute tubular necrosis.
- D. a urinary tract infection.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: intrarenal disease, probably acute tubular necrosis. The presence of coarse, muddy brown granular casts and hematuria in the urinalysis indicates damage to the renal tubules, which is characteristic of acute tubular necrosis. This condition is a type of intrarenal disease where there is direct damage to the kidney tubules, leading to decreased urinary output and symptoms like malaise and fatigue. Prerenal and postrenal conditions do not typically present with granular casts and hematuria, making choices A and B incorrect. Urinary tract infection is also unlikely to cause the specific findings seen in this case, ruling out choice D. Therefore, choice C is the most appropriate based on the urinalysis results and clinical presentation.