Question

Specific consequences differ, depending on it severity and the electrolytes involved. Discuss how the following four overarching consequences link to all imbalances. (Write a short paragraph for each consequence.)

• Impaired perfusion

• Impaired gas exchange oxygenation

• Impaired cerebral function

• Impaired neuromuscular function

Answer 1

1. Impaired perfusion - A decrease in nutrition and respiration at the cellular level due to decrease in capillary blood supply. The cells are deprived of oxygen and nutrients because blood is not getting to them.

#. Some factors that can result in poor perfusion :-

Vascular disorders like HTN, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), arteriosclerosis (thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of arterial walls), aneurisms, renal failure, conditions such as pregnancy, dehydration, and malnutrition.

2. Impaired gas exchange - State in which a person experiences decreased passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli of the lungs and cardiovascular system.

Conditions that cause changes or collapse of the alveoli (e.g., atelectasis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, and acute respiratory distress syndrome) impair ventilation. High altitudes, hypoventilation, and altered oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood from reduced hemoglobin are other factors that affect gas exchange.

3. Impaired cerebral function -

Result of inadequate blood flow to the brain from the partial or complete occlusion of an artery; 80% occlusion of a cerebral artery by either a thrombus or an embolism; an embolism lodges and occludes a cerebral artery resulting in infarction & edema, most emboli/plaque break off and travel up cerebral circulation and lodge where vessels split

4. Impaired neuromuscular function include :-

Hypotonia:

decrease in muscle tone

Seen mostly with elderly patients

Hypertonia:

increase in muscle tone to the point of spastic movement

Rigidity:

increase resistance to movement in all directions

Clonus:

rhythmic alternation of contraction and relaxation

#. upper motor neuron damage

weakness and loss of voluntary motion

spinal reflexes remain intact but cannot be modulated by the brain

increased muscle tone

-hyperreflexia

-spasticity

#. lower motor neuron damage

neurons directly innervating muscles are affected

irritated neurons

-spontaneous muscle contractions: fasiculations

death of neurons

-spinal reflexes are lost (hypo- or a-reflexia)

-flaccid paralysis

-denervation atrophy of muscles