[Electrolyte Emergencies. Selected Aspects]. / Elektrolytbedingte Notallsituationen. Ausgewählte Aspekte

ABSTRACT

The question of what factors determine the significance of abnormal electrolyte findings is discussed with reference to a number of examples of acute electrolyte emergencies (hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic alkalosis). In addition to the extent of the deviation from normal and the clinical manifestations already present in all cases, it is principally the rate of dysfunction which determines the action of a clinical or laboratory-determined electrolyte deviation.