
Hyponatraemia
Hyponatraemia: common problem in ICU (30% of patients have a Na < 134mmol/L). Independent predictor of mortality in ICU
The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.

Hyponatraemia: common problem in ICU (30% of patients have a Na < 134mmol/L). Independent predictor of mortality in ICU

Hypophosphataemia: Phosphate - important intracellular anion; 85% is stored in bone as hydroxyapapitie crystals, 14% in soft tissues, 1% in blood

Hypokalaemia: the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalised patients; mostly caused by drugs and GI disease

Hypocalcaemia: Reduced intake; redistribution and increased output

Hypernatraemia can be caused by a number of critical illnesses: water depletion (decreased intake, hypotonic fluid loss – renal/non-renal); solute excess (Na+ or other)

Hyperkalaemia is a life-threatening emergency. Basic overview of hyperkalemia management

Ca2+ exists in the extracellular plasma two states: (1) free ionized state and (2) bound to other molecules (mostly albumin, rest – beta-globulins, phosphate, citrate)
ionized Ca2+ concentration is inversely related to pH -> an increase in pH results in a decrease in ionized Ca2+

Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC); acute inflammatory disease of colon commonly associated with antibiotic use; C. difficile implicated as a causative organism in 1970’s

Portopulmonary Syndrome is NOT considered contraindication to liver transplantation; affects ~20% of pre-transplant patients; usually due to increased blood flow through the lungs without increased resistance

Cuff pressure gauge aka cuff manometer; allows safe inflation of the cuff seal of low pressure endotracheal and laryngeal tube cuffs by measuring the cuff pressure

GENERAL APPROACH Considerations Transplant – liver, heart, lung, heart-lung, bone marrow, renal, pancreatic Phase of care – immediate post op, sepsis, rejection, respiratory failure, renal failure Surgery – graft function, anatomy, anastomoses (leaks and occlusion) Infection – bacterial (early), opportunistic:…

GENERAL APPROACH Find the shock (is it PROVED?) Pump, rate/ rhythm = Cardiogenic – myocardial, valves, rhythm, pericardium, left and right sided (signs: cool peripherally, shut down, bounding pulse, narrow pulse pressure, inotropes, high CVP, low SvO2, low Q, crackles…