 |
|
 DENOMINATION
- Potassium in blood,
- K in blood,
- Potassium sérico.
DEFINITION
The Potassium (K) is the positive ión that is principally inside the cells of the human body. The concentration in the cells is 30 times superior to the extracellular space and it serves to support the electrical load of the cell membran. This is necessary for the transmission of nervous and muscular stimuli, for the transport of nutrients to the interior of the cells and the exit of products of degradation of the same ones. The potassium concentration in the blood is regulated by the aldosterone. The aldosterone is a hormone that takes place in the adrenal glands, on having increased his level in blood, a major sodium retention takes place in the kidney and an increase of the exit of the potassium across the urine. When the potassium in blood increases the adrenal glands they secrete aldosterone, which, on having increased his concentration in blood, produces a loss of potassium for the urine. The modifications in the concentration of the potassium by his ingestion in the diet it is controlled across his renal regulation.
WHY IS THE ANALYSIS REALIZED?
The small changes of concentration of potassium in the blood produce a big alteration in the transmission of nervous and muscular stimuli, especially it is important in the function of the cardiac muscle. On having lowered the potassium levels, cardiac arrhythmias can appear and an increase of the potassium can cause cardiac blockades.
PROCEDURE OF SECURING
To realize this analysis to be on an empty stomach is not needed. They can there turns altered the values of potassium in the whey for treatments with wheys endovenosos, administration of glucose or of insulin. There are medicines that can raise the potassium level in blood, antineoplastic, captopril, epinefrina, heparina, histamine, isoniazida, manitol and some diuretics. And there can diminish his level the salicilatos, the acetazolamida, insulin, some diuretics, fenotiazinas, and the on this side of the Rio de la Plata one. It is possible to realize the capture in an appropriate place (consultation, clinic, hospital) but sometimes it is realized in the proper domicile of the patient. To realize the capture it is needed of locating an appropriate vein and in general there are used the veins placed in the flexura of the elbow. The person entrusted to take the sample will use sanitary gloves, a needle (with a syringe or pipe of extraction). It will put a tortor (tape of gum - latex) in the arm so that the veins retain more blood and turn out to be more visible and accessible. It will clean the area of the prick with an antiseptic one and by means of a palpación it will locate the appropriate vein and will gain access to her with the needle. They will release the tortor. When the blood flows for the needle the sanitary one will realize an aspiration (by means of the syringe or by means of the application of a pipe with gap). On having finished the capture, it extracts the needle to itself and the area is pressed with a cotton or similar torunda to favor the coagulation and it will indicate him to itself that flexione the arm and the area pressed with a Band-Aid supports for some hours. The abstracted blood moves to the analysis laboratory in a special pipe for biochemistry, which contains an anticoagulant product. In general more than 10 milliliters of blood are not usually necessary for a standard battery of biochemical parameters.
PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE RISKS
- The securing by means of a prick of the vein can produce certain pain.
- The possible difficulty in finding the appropriate vein can give place to several pricks
- Appearance of a haematoma (bruise or cardinal) in the extraction area, is due usually to the fact that the vein has not closed well after the later pressure and blood has kept on going out producing this problem. Type Hirudoid can apply an ointment to itself ® or Trombocid ® in the area.
- Inflammation of the vein (phlebitis), sometimes the vein turns out to be shaken, well be for a cause merely physically or why it has become infected. It will have to support the relaxed area a few days and type Hirudoid can apply an ointment to itself ® or Trombocid ® in the area. If the problem persists or appears fever will have to consult it with his doctor.
NORMAL VALUES OF POTASSIUM IN WHEY
Normal levels of K in whey: 3,7 to 5,2 mEq/l
In these values there can be very small differences for the skill or for proper criteria of normality of concrete laboratories, sometimes in the status of values and other times for the units to which one alludes.
EVALUATION OF ABNORMAL RESULTS
The developing Potassium levels in the blood (hiperkalihemia) can indicate:
- Metabolic or respiratory acidosis
- Renal illness
- Illness of Addison
- Hemolisis
- Hipoaldosteronismo
- Traumatism
The diminished Potassium levels in the blood (hipokalihemia) can indicate:
- Inappropriate diet
- Diarrhea
- Syndrome of Cushing
- Hiperaldosteronismo
- Vomiting
TO SEE ALSO
WHAT DOCTOR CAN TREAT ME?
|
|
|
DENOMINATION 
