A 24-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus is brought to the emergency department due to a 2-day history of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. She has not taken her insulin because she was unable to keep food down. Her blood pressure is , pulse is , and respirations are and deep. Laboratory results show:
Serum glucose:
Serum sodium:
Serum potassium:
Serum chloride:
Serum bicarbonate:
Arterial blood gas pH:
Urine ketones: positive (+++)
Arrange the following management steps in the most appropriate chronological sequence for this patient.
- 1Administer rapid intravenous bolus of normal saline
- 2Administer intravenous potassium chloride
- 3Initiate intravenous regular insulin infusion
- 4Add dextrose to intravenous fluids
- 5Transition to subcutaneous insulin regimen
Cevap
The correct sequence is: IV normal saline, then IV potassium chloride, then IV regular insulin infusion, then add dextrose to IV fluids, and finally transition to subcutaneous insulin.
The correct chronological management of this DKA presentation begins with volume resuscitation using normal saline to address hypotension and dehydration. Next, because the serum potassium is critically low at (below the threshold), potassium must be aggressively repleted before any insulin is administered. Once potassium levels are deemed safe, an IV regular insulin infusion is started to halt ketoacid production and close the anion gap. As the insulin works, serum glucose drops faster than the anion gap closes; therefore, dextrose is added to the IV fluids when glucose reaches to prevent hypoglycemia while insulin continues. Finally, once the anion gap has closed and the patient is eating, treatment transitions to a subcutaneous insulin regimen.
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Anahtar Kavram
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) management sequencing, particularly the critical requirement to delay insulin therapy until profound hypokalemia () is corrected.