A critically ill adult client is admitted to the intensive care unit with severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The initial laboratory results indicate a blood glucose level of , an arterial pH of , and a serum potassium level of . To reduce the risk of fatal complications during treatment, arrange the following collaborative interventions in the safest chronological order from first to last.
- 1Initiate a rapid intravenous infusion of sodium chloride.
- 2Administer a prescribed intravenous potassium chloride infusion.
- 3Start a continuous intravenous infusion of regular insulin.
- 4Add dextrose to the intravenous maintenance fluids.
- 5Administer a scheduled dose of subcutaneous basal insulin.
Cevap
The correct sequence is to first initiate intravenous fluid resuscitation, followed by intravenous potassium chloride, then continuous intravenous regular insulin, followed by adding dextrose to the fluids, and finally administering subcutaneous basal insulin.
The prioritization of DKA management centers on mitigating life-threatening physiological decompensation. First, the profound osmotic diuresis caused by severe hyperglycemia leads to hypovolemic shock; therefore, restoring intravascular volume with isotonic fluid ( sodium chloride) is the paramount initial action. Second, while insulin is the definitive treatment for DKA, this client has a critically low serum potassium of . Insulin drives potassium into the intracellular space. Administering insulin before correcting the hypokalemia would cause a precipitous drop in serum potassium, placing the client at imminent risk for fatal ventricular arrhythmias. Thus, intravenous potassium chloride must be infused prior to initiating insulin. Third, once potassium reaches , a continuous intravenous insulin infusion is started to halt ketogenesis. Fourth, as blood glucose levels drop to approximately , dextrose is added to the maintenance fluids to prevent hypoglycemia and subsequent cerebral edema. Finally, once the anion gap has closed and DKA is resolved, subcutaneous basal insulin is administered. The intravenous insulin is continued for to hours post-subcutaneous injection to prevent rebound ketoacidosis.
Adım Adım Çözüm
Anahtar Kavram
Reduction of Risk Potential: DKA Protocol Sequencing