What are the gallbladder complications associated with Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)?
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Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis.
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What are the gallbladder complications associated with Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)?
Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis.
What happens to inulin concentration along the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
Inulin is filtered but not reabsorbed, so its concentration rises.
What metabolic shift causes refeeding syndrome?
A sudden shift from fat to carbohydrate metabolism with a sudden rise in insulin secretion.
What happens to glucose concentration along the length of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
In health, glucose is completely reabsorbed, so its concentration falls to zero along the length of the PCT.
What is the role of the nutrition team in hospitals regarding TPN?
The nutrition team, comprising a physician, dietician, and pharmacist, reviews patients with nutritional concerns and guides the safe use of parenteral nutrition.
How can refeeding syndrome be prevented?
By identifying patients at risk, introducing slow refeeding, and closely monitoring and correcting electrolyte disturbances.
What are the two main components of total body water (TBW)?
Extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF).
Where in the renal tubules is glucose reabsorbed?
Proximal tubules
What is refeeding syndrome in the context of TPN?
A relatively rare but potentially fatal complication characterized by severe hypophosphataemia and other metabolic complications in malnourished patients receiving concentrated calories via TPN.
How does sodium concentration change along the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
Sodium is almost completely reabsorbed and is followed by passive diffusion of water, so its concentration remains unchanged.
How soon can refeeding syndrome occur after starting TPN?
Within 72 hours of starting the feed.
Where is the Sphincter of Oddi located?
It surrounds the bile and pancreatic ducts as they emerge into the lumen of the duodenum.
What is P B in the context of GFR?
Hydrostatic pressure in Bowman's capsule.
Which nerves supply the external anal sphincter?
The inferior rectal nerves.
What is the volume of plasma in the extracellular fluid (ECF)?
3.5 liters.
What is the role of the Na+-K+ ATPase pump in sodium reabsorption?
It extrudes 3 Na+ into the interstitium in exchange for 2 K+ that are pumped into the cell, creating a Na+ concentration gradient for passive diffusion of sodium into the cell from the lumen.
How does the total body water (TBW) percentage differ between adults and neonates?
In adults, TBW is 60% of body weight, while in neonates it is 75–85%.
What is the percentage of extracellular fluid (ECF) in neonates compared to adults?
In neonates, ECF is 30–45% of body weight, while in adults it is 20%.
What is a closed buffer system?
A closed buffer system is one where the total concentration of buffer within the cell is fixed, such as phosphate and haemoglobin.
How do renal prostaglandins affect sympathetic-induced vasoconstriction?
They attenuate sympathetic-induced vasoconstriction through vasodilation, thereby increasing RBF.
What is the 'Rule of 5s' in renal blood flow?
1/5 of cardiac output, 500 mL/min to each kidney, 500 mL/min/100 g tissue to the cortex, 100 mL/min/100 g tissue to the outer medulla, 20 mL/min/100 g tissue to the inner medulla.
What factors affect GFR?
Permeability of capillaries, size of capillary bed (surface area), and hydrostatic and osmotic pressure gradients across the capillary wall (Starling’s forces).
What are the indications for TPN?
What is the function of the ileocaecal sphincter?
It prevents reflux of colonic material into the ileum.
What is the function of the rectum?
To store faeces prior to defecation.
What is the anorectal junction?
A voluntary sphincter made up of an internal and an external ring of muscle at the exit of the rectum.
What does a buffer consist of?
A buffer consists of a weak acid and its conjugate base (salt).
What does the osmotic pressure gradient in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equation generally equal?
The pressure exerted by the plasma proteins within the glomerular capillaries (Πgc).
What is the filtration fraction (FF)?
The filtration fraction is the ratio of GFR to renal plasma flow (RPF), approximately 0.16–0.2.
What is the Henderson–Hasselbach equation?
pH = pKa + log [conjugate base]/[acid] or pH = pKa + log [A–]/[HA]
Why does Πgc rise along the length of the glomerular capillaries?
Because plasma proteins become progressively more concentrated as filtration occurs.
What happens to the net ultrafiltration pressure just proximal to the efferent arteriole?
It is reduced to zero and filtration ceases.
What are the Starling pressures (in mmHg) at the afferent end of the glomerular capillary?
Pgc: 45, Pb: 10, Πgc: 20, Net: 15
Why is a trend in creatinine values more important than a single measurement?
Because creatinine levels remain within the normal range until a significant reduction in renal function occurs, especially in the elderly with reduced muscle mass.
In the bicarbonate and carbonic acid buffer system, what form does most of the buffer take on the left side of the plot?
Most of the buffer is in the form of carbon dioxide or carbonic acid.
What happens to H+ in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
In the PCT, H+ is secreted in exchange for Na+ and combines with filtered HCO3− to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into H2O and CO2. These move into the tubular cell, where the reaction is reversed, and HCO3− formed enters the interstitium and later the plasma.
How much metabolic acid is produced by the body per day?
The body produces 70 μmol/min or 0.1 mol/day of metabolic acids.
What is Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)?
TPN is a form of feeding that supplies all daily nutritional requirements to the patient intravenously.
When was refeeding syndrome first described?
After the Second World War in Japanese prisoners of war.
What does the Sphincter of Oddi control?
The release of bile and pancreatic enzymes into the duodenum.
What is glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
GFR is a unit of measure of kidney excretory function, defined as the volume of plasma cleared of an ideal substance per unit time, usually expressed as ml/min.
What is Π B in the context of GFR?
Colloid osmotic pressure in Bowman's capsule.
What remains constant from the afferent to the efferent end of the glomerular capillary?
Pgc (45 mm Hg) and Pb (10 mm Hg).
What is the total blood volume (TBV) in an adult?
5–6 liters.
What is a buffer–titration curve?
A titration curve is a plot of pH vs. the amount of acid or base added to a buffer solution (titration).
How does the buffering capacity of haemoglobin compare to plasma proteins?
Haemoglobin has six times the buffering capacity of plasma proteins.
How much water is reabsorbed in the renal tubules per day?
179,000 mL
What is the perfusion rate to the outer medulla?
100 mL/min/100 g tissue.
How does the buffering capacity of a closed buffer system change with pH?
The buffering capacity is maximal when the pH equals the pKa of the buffer system and is significantly reduced when the pH varies by more than 1 from the buffer’s pKa.
What happens to the buffer system when base is added?
The pH increases, and the buffer shifts towards a greater HCO3− concentration.
What surrounds the proximal and distal convoluted tubules in the outer two-thirds of the cortex?
Peritubular capillaries.
What is the Fick principle in the context of renal blood flow?
Flow to an organ is equal to the uptake/excretion of a substance by an organ per unit time divided by the arterio-venous (A-V) concentration difference of that substance across that organ (L/min).
How does chronic renal failure affect the production and secretion of ammonia?
Chronic renal failure reduces the production and secretion of ammonia, leading to reduced buffering of urinary H+.
What is the impact of excess K+ in chronic renal failure?
Excess K+ causes intracellular alkalosis, which inhibits H+ secretion.
What is a common hepatic complication when starting TPN?
Transient liver dysfunction, evidenced by increased hepatic transaminases, bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase.
What is acidaemia?
A condition where arterial pH < 7.35 or [H+] > 45 nmol/L.
What is alkalaemia?
A condition where arterial pH > 7.45 or [H+] < 35 nmol/L.
What is the anion gap and how is it calculated?
The anion gap (AG) is the difference between measured cations (positively charged ions) and measured anions (negatively charged ions) in serum. It is calculated using the equation: AG = ([Na+] + [K+]) − ([Cl−] + [HCO3−]).
Why is a central venous catheter required for TPN?
Because TPN solutions are concentrated and have the potential to cause venous thrombosis in peripheral veins.
Why does sodium concentration remain unchanged along the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
Because sodium reabsorption is followed by passive water reabsorption, maintaining a constant concentration.
What does the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) measure?
The net filtration rate as a function of the forces favoring filtration and those opposing it.
What is the definition of a buffer?
A buffer is an acid–base buffer solution that resists a change of pH when an acid or base is added to it.
What is Π GC in the context of GFR?
Colloid osmotic pressure in the glomerular capillary.
Is the external anal sphincter voluntary or involuntary?
Voluntary.
What is renal plasma flow (RPF)?
RPF represents the total amount of potentially filterable fluid entering the kidneys, approximately 600–700 ml/min.
What does the dissociation constant (Ka) represent in a buffer system?
Ka is the dissociation constant of a buffer, and pKa is the pH at which 50% of the buffer’s acid is dissociated.
Why is the use of inulin limited for measuring GFR?
Due to its expense, impracticalities, and the need for a bolus followed by an infusion, along with blood and urine sample collection over several hours.
What are the axes on a buffer–titration curve?
The pH is plotted on the y-axis and the buffer composition on the x-axis.
What is an open buffer system?
An open buffer system is one where the total concentration of buffer within a compartment is not fixed, such as the bicarbonate/carbonic acid system.
What happens to the buffer system when acid is added?
The pH decreases, and the buffer shifts towards a greater H2CO3 and CO2 concentration.
What is the pathway of blood flow through the kidney starting from the renal artery?
Renal artery → interlobar arteries → interlobular arteries → afferent arterioles → glomerular capillaries → efferent arterioles.
Why is the glomerular capillary wall highly permeable?
Due to its fenestrations.
What surrounds the loops of Henle and collecting ducts in the inner one-third of the cortex?
The vasa recta.
How can renal blood flow (RBF) be measured?
RBF can be calculated by plasma clearance of para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), as a modification of the Fick principle.
Why is para-aminohippuric acid (PAH) used to measure renal plasma flow (RPF)?
PAH is used because it has a high extraction ratio (almost completely removed by the kidneys) and is neither utilized nor excreted by any other organ.
How can excess acid be buffered in chronic renal failure?
Excess acid may be buffered by calcium carbonate in bone, contributing to renal osteodystrophy.
What is the difference between a strong acid and a weak acid?
A strong acid fully dissociates in solution (e.g., HCl), while a weak acid does not fully dissociate and acts as a buffer system (e.g., carbonic acid).
What is pKa and what does it indicate?
pKa is the pH at which an acid is 50% dissociated, indicating the strength of an acid (the lower the pKa, the stronger the acid).
What happens to standard bicarbonate levels in acute respiratory acidosis?
Low in acute setting, as slow renal compensation is incomplete.
How does metabolic compensation take place in response to increased PaCO2?
Increased PaCO2 in renal tubular cells results in increased secretion of H+ ions, leading to reabsorption of bicarbonate by dissociation of carbonic acid and regeneration of bicarbonate by excretion of H+ with ammonia and phosphate in urine. This process takes 2-3 days.
How does renal compensation work in the presence of respiratory (and metabolic) alkalosis?
By decreased acid (H+) secretion and HCO3– retention (reabsorption and regeneration).
When should the enteral route be preferred over TPN?
Where possible, the enteral route should always be used in preference to parenteral nutrition.
Where is the ileocaecal sphincter located?
At the junction of the small and large bowels.
What percentage of body weight does total body water (TBW) constitute in the average adult male?
Approximately 60% of body weight.
Which nerve supplies the internal anal sphincter?
The hypogastric plexus.
What fraction of total body water (TBW) is intracellular fluid (ICF)?
Two-thirds of TBW.
How do GFR values differ between men and women?
Values in women are approximately 10% lower than those in men.
Why is P GC higher (45 mm Hg) than in other capillary beds (32 mm Hg)?
Because afferent arterioles are short and straight, and efferent arterioles have a relatively high resistance.
How can GFR be measured?
GFR can be calculated using the plasma clearance of a suitable substance by applying the Fick principle or estimated using prediction formulae based on factors such as age, sex, and serum creatinine level.
What are the mechanisms of transport involved in renal handling of substances?
Passive diffusion, facilitated diffusion (co-transport and antiport), and active transport.
How much blood flow does each kidney receive?
500–600 mL/min to each kidney.
In premature babies, which fluid compartment exceeds the other: ECF or ICF?
ECF exceeds ICF.
What are the Starling pressures (in mmHg) at the efferent end of the glomerular capillary?
Pgc: 45, Pb: 10, Πgc: 35, Net: 0
Where does urinary buffering occur?
Urinary buffering occurs in the proximal (PCT) and distal (DCT) tubules and collecting ducts.
How does the buffering capacity of an open buffer system change?
The buffering capacity increases as the concentration of the non-fixed component (HCO3−) increases.
What does the flatter part of the buffer system's sigmoid curve represent?
The area of greatest buffering capacity where a shift in the relative concentrations of bicarbonate and carbon dioxide produces only a small change in pH.
How does the basement membrane's charge affect ion filtration?
The negative charge repels negatively charged ions, greatly reducing their filtration, while positively charged ions are filtered slightly more than neutral substances.
What is autoregulation in the context of renal blood flow?
The ability to maintain a constant RBF over a wide range of mean arterial pressures (MAP) or tissue perfusion pressures (PP) from 90–200 mmHg.
What determines whether an acid-base disturbance is respiratory or metabolic?
The primary change: alteration of PCO2 indicates respiratory disturbance, while alteration of the bicarbonate buffer system indicates metabolic disturbance.
What enzyme catalyzes the production of carbonic acid in the bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system?
Carbonic anhydrase, which is present in red blood cells but not in plasma.
Define an acid in terms of acid-base chemistry.
An acid is a proton donor, with a pH < 7.0.
How is pH calculated?
pH is calculated as the negative logarithm to the base 10 of the hydrogen ion concentration.
What is the base excess/deficit in acute respiratory acidosis?
Negative.
What is alkalosis?
A process where there is acid loss or alkali accumulation.
What is base excess (deficit) and what does it indicate?
The amount of acid or base required to restore 1 liter of blood to normal pH at a PaCO2 of 5.3 kPa and body temperature. It is negative in acidosis and positive in alkalosis, indicating the severity of the metabolic component of acid-base disturbances.
What mnemonic can be used to remember the causes of high anion gap metabolic acidosis?
MUDPILES (Methanol, Uraemia, Diabetic ketoacidosis, Propylene glycol, Iron/isoniazid, Lactic acidosis, Ethylene glycol, Salicylates) or KULT (Ketoacids, Uraemia, Lactic acids, Toxins).
Why does glucose concentration fall sharply in the first part of the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
Because glucose is actively reabsorbed in the early part of the PCT.
What are the life-threatening systemic consequences of refeeding syndrome?
Acute cardiac failure, confusion, coma, convulsions, and even death.
What does Kƒ represent in the GFR equation?
The glomerular filtration coefficient (permeability × capillary bed surface area).
What is P GC in the context of GFR?
Hydrostatic pressure in the glomerular capillary.
What is the approximate normal value of GFR?
Approximately 125 ml/min or 180 l/day.
What is the transport maximum (Tm) for glucose in venous plasma?
About 180 g/dL or 10 mmol/L
What happens if a base is added to a buffer solution?
H+ and OH− react to form water, but more HA dissociates to maintain the [H+] constant, therefore the equation shifts to the right.
How does Πgc change from the afferent end to the efferent end of the glomerular capillary?
Πgc rises from 20 mm Hg at the afferent end to 35 mm Hg at the efferent end.
What percentage of cardiac output does the kidney receive?
20–25% of cardiac output.
What is the use of a buffer–titration curve?
It is useful for determining the pKa of weak acids or bases.
What is the role of local autoregulation in GFR?
It is mediated by renal sympathetic nerves and affects glomerular capillary pressure.
Why is urea less reliable than creatinine for measuring GFR?
Because 40-50% of filtered urea may be reabsorbed by the tubules and non-renal factors can affect serum levels.
What is the role of mediators like nitric oxide and endothelin in regulating GFR?
Nitric oxide causes vasodilation and endothelin causes vasoconstriction, helping to regulate GFR.
What is the energy requirement for a hypercatabolic patient on TPN?
45–60 kcal/kg/day
What are some other sources of acid production in the body?
Other sources include lactic acid (strenuous exercise), ketoacids (diabetes, alcohol, starvation), failure of H+ secretion by diseased kidneys (renal failure), and ingestion of acidifying salts (NH4Cl and CaCl2).
What effect does chronic renal failure have on extracellular buffers and plasma bicarbonate levels?
Chronic renal failure depletes extracellular buffers and reduces plasma bicarbonate levels.
What role do mesangial cells play in GFR?
They have a contractile function that reduces the surface area available for filtration.
What is the equation for the clearance of PAH?
Clearance of PAH = urine [PAH] × urine flow / plasma [PAH].
Define a base in terms of acid-base chemistry.
A base is a proton acceptor or hydroxide (OH−) producer, with a pH > 7.0.
How does chronic renal failure affect haemoglobin levels?
Chronic renal failure reduces haemoglobin levels due to depressed production of new red blood cells from diminished erythropoietin secretion.
What primary change is indicated by increased PaCO2 and decreased PaO2?
Respiratory (type 2 respiratory failure).
What is the initial compensation mechanism for acid-base imbalances?
Intracellular buffering (carbonic acid–bicarbonate buffer system and haemoglobin), occurring within 2 hours.
How does renal compensation work in the presence of respiratory (and metabolic) acidosis?
By increased acid (H+) secretion and HCO3– retention (reabsorption and regeneration).
What is indicated by metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap?
A primary loss of bicarbonate ions (e.g., due to diarrhea, renal tubular acidosis, Addison’s disease) with a compensatory elevation in chloride concentration.
What is the significance of inulin concentration rising along the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT)?
It indicates that inulin is filtered but not reabsorbed, making it a useful marker for measuring glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
What is the equation for calculating GFR?
GFR = Kƒ [(P GC − P B) − (Π GC − Π B)]
What is the percentage of sodium reabsorbed in the renal tubules?
99.4%
What is the general equation for a buffer system?
HA (undissociated acid) ↔ H+ (hydrogen ion) + A¯ (conjugate base)
What is the equation for GFR?
GFR = Kƒ [Pgc − Pb − Πgc]
What forces oppose the hydrostatic pressure in the glomerular capillary (P GC)?
Hydrostatic pressure in Bowman's capsule (P B) and the osmotic pressure gradient across the glomerular capillaries (Π GC − Π B).
Why is deoxygenated haemoglobin a better buffer than oxygenated haemoglobin?
Deoxygenated haemoglobin (pKa 8.2) dissociates more readily than oxygenated haemoglobin (pKa 6.6), making it a better buffer and weaker acid.
Why is the MDRD formula preferred for estimating GFR?
The MDRD formula is the most validated for eGFR and does not require weight or height variables because results are normalized to 1.73 m² body surface area.
Why are plasma proteins effective buffers?
Plasma proteins are effective buffers because both their carboxyl (COOH) and free amino (NH2) groups dissociate.
How can ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists affect serum creatinine levels?
They may increase serum creatinine by up to 30%.
What is the basic water requirement for Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) in adults?
30–40 mL/kg/day
Where does most phosphate buffering occur in the kidneys?
Most phosphate buffering occurs in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and collecting ducts.
How much respiratory acid is produced by the body per day?
The body produces 200 ml/min or 8 mmol/min, which equals 12 mol/day of respiratory acids.
What is the pH at the central (equivalence) point of the bicarbonate and carbonic acid buffer system?
The pH is equal to the pKa (6.1) for the buffer.
Why might lipids be withheld from TPN solutions for obese patients?
To help mobilize endogenous fat stores and increase insulin sensitivity.
What are some basic monitoring tests for patients on TPN?
Daily weight, FBC, urea and electrolytes, and liver function tests.
What is the abnormality indicated by a pH of 7.0 in arterial blood gases?
Acidaemia (pH < 7.4).
What is the aim of compensatory mechanisms in acid-base balance?
To restore the pH towards normal by maintaining the ratio PaCO2/[HCO3–].
What would you expect the pH to be in patients with chronically elevated PaCO2 at 7 kPa?
In chronic respiratory acidosis, renal compensatory mechanisms result in a chronic elevation of plasma bicarbonate, which restores the pH to within the normal range, but typically not to the normal level of 7.40.
What does a low PaO2 suggest?
A problem with ventilation, diffusion, shunt, or a ventilation-perfusion mismatch.
What is the acute compensatory response for respiratory acidosis?
Intracellular buffering, with a 1–2 mmol/L increase in HCO3– for every 10 mmHg increase in PCO2.
Is the internal anal sphincter voluntary or involuntary?
Involuntary; it relaxes in response to stretching.
How much of the extracellular fluid (ECF) is interstitial fluid (ISF)?
75% of ECF.
What physiological factors increase the Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)?
Permeability of capillaries, size of capillary bed (surface area), hydrostatic and osmotic pressure gradients across the capillary wall (Starling’s forces)
How does haemoglobin act as a blood buffer?
Haemoglobin acts as a blood buffer due to the imidazole groups of its histidine residues, which are anionic and accept H+.
What are the commonly used formulas for estimating GFR (eGFR)?
The Cockcroft and Gault (C&G) equation and formulas based on the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study.
What is the percentage of potassium reabsorbed in the renal tubules?
93.3%
How is inulin used to assess renal function?
Inulin is used because it is freely filtered through the glomeruli, not reabsorbed or secreted, not metabolized, not stored in the kidney, has no effect on the filtration rate, is non-toxic, and easy to measure in plasma and urine.
What effect does renal sympathetic nerve stimulation have on renal blood flow (RBF)?
It results in vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles, thereby reducing RBF.
What is the perfusion rate to the inner medulla?
20 mL/min/100 g tissue.
What are the limitations of using cystatin C for GFR measurement?
It has wide variation in serum levels and currently has no clinical role in GFR measurement.
What are the three components of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism?
How much amino acids are required for a post-operative patient on TPN?
2 g/day
How does the size of a substance affect its filtration through the glomerular capillary wall?
Neutral substances of <4 nm diameter are freely filtered, but for substances >8 nm, their filtration approaches zero. Between 4 and 8 nm, filtration is inversely proportional to diameter.
What are the functions of renal blood flow (RBF)?
Provision of glucose and oxygen, removal of CO2 and other metabolic products, maintenance of GFR, provision of O2 for active reabsorption of sodium.
How do vasoactive substances affect mesangial cells?
Angiotensin II contracts mesangial cells, while PGE2 relaxes them.
How does chronic renal failure affect bicarbonate reabsorption and regeneration?
Chronic renal failure reduces bicarbonate reabsorption and regeneration.
What are some complications associated with TPN?
Volume overload, glucose abnormalities, electrolyte disturbances, metabolic bone disease, and hepatic complications.
What is the remedy for metabolic bone disease in patients receiving prolonged TPN?
Discontinue the TPN temporarily or permanently.
What is acidosis?
A process where there is acid accumulation or alkali loss.
How does respiratory compensation work in the presence of metabolic alkalosis?
Through hypoventilation.
What is the primary compensatory mechanism for metabolic alkalosis?
Hypoventilation, resulting in a 0.7 mmHg increase in PCO2 for each 1 mmol/L increase in HCO3–.
What is the chronic compensatory response for respiratory alkalosis?
Renal decreased reabsorption of HCO3– and decreased excretion of ammonium, with a 4–5 mmol/L decrease in HCO3– for every 10 mmHg decrease in PCO2.
According to Le Chatelier’s principle, what happens if H+ ions are added to a buffer solution?
The equilibrium shifts to the left, and the H+ ions are ‘neutralised’ by the conjugate base, minimizing an increase in free [H+] and maintaining a constant pH.
What are transcellular fluids (TCF) and where are they found?
Transcellular fluids are secreted fluids separated from plasma by an epithelial layer, found in pleural, peritoneal, gastrointestinal fluids, CSF, intra-ocular fluids, sweat, saliva, and bile.
What happens when the renal threshold for glucose is reached?
Not all the filtered glucose is reabsorbed, and glucose starts to appear in the urine.
What is the advantage of deoxygenated haemoglobin at the capillary level?
After O2 has been offloaded, oxyhaemoglobin is reduced to deoxyhaemoglobin, which has a better buffering capacity, explaining why venous pH is only slightly more acidic than arterial pH.
What are the limitations of using creatinine clearance to measure GFR?
It requires a 24-hour urine collection, is affected by muscle mass, diet, and tubular secretion, and may be inaccurate due to elevated urine [creat] and non-specific chromogens in plasma [creat].
What percentage of renal blood flow supplies the cortex?
More than 90%.
What role does phosphate play in buffering?
Phosphate plays a small role in the extracellular fluid but is an important intracellular buffer due to its abundance and dissociation from phosphoric acid to dihydrogen phosphate and then to mono-hydrogen phosphate.
What is the effect of angiotensin II on arterioles and glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
Angiotensin II vasoconstricts the efferent arterioles more than the afferent arterioles, thus maintaining GFR.
How much energy is required for a medical patient on TPN?
30 kcal/kg/day
What is the role of ammonia in urinary buffering?
Ammonia buffering takes place mainly in the PCT and DCT, where H+ combines with secreted NH3 to form NH4+, which is excreted in the urine.
Why does the body rely on other buffer and organ systems to maintain a constant pH?
Because at the physiological blood pH of 7.4, small changes in the relative compositions cause a large pH change.
What are the two features that make a good buffer solution?
Range of buffer (pH = pKa ± 1) and buffering capacity (ratio of concentrations of weak acid to conjugate base).
Why is the bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system effective despite its low pKa relative to blood pH?
Due to the ready excretion of carbonic acid in the form of CO2 by the lungs and the continuous regeneration of bicarbonate by the kidneys.
Is the condition likely acute or chronic if it is uncompensated?
Likely acute.
How does respiratory compensation work in the presence of metabolic acidosis?
Through hyperventilation.
What is the normal range for the anion gap?
10–20 mmol/L, or 8–16 mmol/L if [K+] is excluded. Modern analyzers predict a normal range of 3–11 mmol/L.
How does the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism respond to an increase in fluid load in the tubule?
The afferent arteriole vasoconstricts and GFR is reduced.
What essential nutrients are included in TPN solutions?
Essential fatty acids, minerals (e.g., Acetate, Calcium, Chloride, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium, Zinc), and vitamins (e.g., A, D, E, K, C, Folic acid, Thiamine, Pyridoxine, Niacin)
How are TPN solutions prepared?
Using sterile techniques and may be modified based on laboratory results, underlying disorders, hypermetabolism, or other factors.
What are the normal values for pH, PCO2, and HCO3- in the body?
pH ~ 7.40, PCO2 ~ 5.3 kPa (40 mmHg), HCO3- ~ 24 mmol/L.
What process is indicated by an excess production of acid in the form of CO2?
Acidosis.
What is standard bicarbonate?
The plasma concentration of bicarbonate when arterial PCO2 is corrected to 5.3 kPa, hemoglobin is fully saturated, and body temperature is 37°C.
What is the primary compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis?
Hyperventilation, resulting in a 1.2 mmHg decrease in PCO2 for each 1 mmol/L decrease in HCO3–.
What does the steeper part of the buffer system's sigmoid curve represent?
The area of least buffering capacity, where even a small shift in relative concentrations of acid and base produces a large change in pH.
What is the difference between bicarbonate buffering and phosphate/ammonia buffering in the kidneys?
Buffering by bicarbonate results in bicarbonate reabsorption, whereas buffering with phosphate and ammonia results in bicarbonate regeneration.
What is the normal pH range for body fluids to maintain homeostasis?
Between 7.35 and 7.45.
What are the two main mechanisms for maintaining acid-base balance in the body?
Buffers in tissue and blood, and excretion of acids by kidneys and lungs.
What is the myogenic theory of autoregulation?
A direct contractile response of the afferent arteriolar smooth muscle to stretch, where an increase in perfusion pressure results in smooth muscle contraction and increased renal vascular resistance, maintaining constant blood flow.
How should TPN be administered?
Through a dedicated port of a central venous line with strict asepsis.
How can renal blood flow (RBF) be deduced from renal plasma flow (RPF)?
RBF can be deduced from RPF if the hematocrit (Hct) is known, using the equation: RBF = RPF / (1 - Hct).
What is the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation for the bicarbonate/carbonic acid buffer system?
pH = 6.1 + log [HCO3−] / [H2CO3] and since H2CO3 is proportional to PaCO2: pH = 6.1 + log [HCO3−] / 0.225 × PaCO2.
What happens to plasma proteins in chronic renal failure?
Plasma proteins may be diminished in the presence of increased glomerular permeability in conditions like glomerulonephritis or nephrotic syndrome.
What occurs when all three variables (pH, HCO3–, and PaCO2) are restored to normal levels?
Correction of the acid-base imbalance.
What physiological process accounts for the low pH in respiratory acidosis?
Respiratory acidosis is a consequence of hypoventilation or ventilation-perfusion inequalities, leading to elevated PCO2, which disrupts the ratio of HCO3− to PCO2 and causes a drop in pH.
What causes an elevated anion gap in metabolic acidosis?
The presence of acidic unmeasured anions, leading to a secondary loss of bicarbonate ions due to their buffering capacity, while chloride concentration remains unchanged to maintain electroneutrality.
What is the chronic compensatory response for respiratory acidosis?
Renal generation of bicarbonate via excretion of ammonium, with a 3–4 mmol/L increase in HCO3– for every 10 mmHg increase in PCO2.
What is the acute compensatory response for respiratory alkalosis?
Intracellular buffering, with a 1–2 mmol/L decrease in HCO3– for every 10 mmHg decrease in PCO2.