In: Nursing
1. Understand extracellular and intracellular, discuss the movement of water between compartments.
2. How do we control fluid levels?
3. Discuss the causes of edema. How is this different from 3rd spacing?
4. Describe dehydration, including the signs and symptoms and compensation.
1) The intracellular fluid (ICF) compartment is the machine that
consists of all fluid enclosed in cells by means of their plasma
membranes. Extracellular fluid (ECF) surrounds all cells in the
body.
Extracellular fluid has two predominant constituents: the fluid
factor of the blood (called plasma) and the interstitial fluid (IF)
that surrounds all cells now not in the blood.
In the body, water moves
through semi-permeable membranes of cells and from one compartment
of the physique to every other by using a process called osmosis.
Osmosis is essentially the diffusion of water from areas of greater
awareness to regions of decrease concentration, along an osmotic
gradient across a semi-permeable membrane.
2) Body fluids are primarily water and electrolytes, and the three primary organs that alter fluid stability are the brain, the adrenal glands and the kidneys.
There are three hormones that play key roles in regulating fluid
and electrolyte balance:
•antidiuretic hormone, launched from the posterior pituitary;
•aldosterone, secreted from the adrenal cortex; and
• atrial natriuretic peptide, produced with the aid of the
heart.
3) Edema occurs when tiny blood vessels in your physique (capillaries) leak fluid. The fluid builds up in surrounding tissues, main to swelling. Mild instances of edema may result from: Sitting or staying in one position for too long.
Edema may additionally structure which is an odd accumulation of fluid in the interstitium; and "third spacing" which refers to an ordinary accumulation of fluid within body tissue or a physique cavity may additionally occur.
4) Dehydration, loss of water from the body; it is almost always associated with some loss of salt (sodium chloride) as well. The cure of any structure of dehydration, therefore, requires no longer solely the substitute of the water lost from the body however also the restoration of the regular concentration of salt within the physique fluid.
•The signs and signs and symptoms of dehydration additionally may also differ by age.
Infant or younger child
Dry mouth and tongue
No tears when crying
No wet diapers for three hours
Sunken eyes, cheeks
Sunken smooth spot on top of skull
Listlessness or irritability
Adult
Extreme thirst
Less common urination
Dark-colored urine
Fatigue
Dizziness
Confusion
• Compensation;
Water (please note that water by myself is no longer always secure to use in babies and can lead to massive electrolyte problems. For this reason, Pedialyte or different balanced electrolyte solutions need to be used.
Clear broths
Popsicles
Jell-O
Other alternative fluids that may additionally include electrolytes (Pedialyte, Gatorade, Powerade, etc.)