A nurse is evaluating the clinical data of a client with a small bowel obstruction who has received continuous nasogastric (NG) tube decompression for 72 hours. The client is lethargic with shallow respirations of 10 breaths/min. The cardiac monitor reveals a prolonged QT interval and frequent multifocal premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).
Morning laboratory results:
- pH:
- : mm Hg
- : mEq/L
- Potassium: mEq/L ( mmol/L)
- Magnesium: mEq/L ( mmol/L)
Which intervention must the nurse prioritize to reduce the client's risk of a life-threatening physiological complication?
- AStimulate the client to take deep, rapid breaths to blow off excess carbon dioxide and correct the acid-base imbalance.
- BAdminister a prescribed intravenous potassium chloride infusion of 20 mEq over 30 minutes to rapidly correct the deficit.
- Administer prescribed intravenous magnesium sulfate before or concurrently with potassium replacement.Cevap
- DClamp the nasogastric tube immediately to halt further electrolyte loss and reverse the metabolic alkalosis.
Cevap
The correct action is to administer prescribed intravenous magnesium sulfate before or concurrently with potassium replacement.
The correct answer involves administering magnesium sulfate prior to or alongside potassium. The client's continuous NG suction has resulted in severe metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia, leading to dangerous myocardial irritability (prolonged QT, PVCs). Hypomagnesemia impairs the sodium-potassium pump, causing continuous renal potassium wasting. Therefore, hypokalemia cannot be effectively corrected until the magnesium level is replenished. Administering magnesium stabilizes the myocardium and allows potassium replacement to be effective, directly reducing the immediate risk of a lethal dysrhythmia such as Torsades de Pointes.
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Anahtar Kavram
Electrolyte replacement prioritization and acid-base compensation in severe metabolic alkalosis.
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