Question 1
A patient had a thyroidectomy and now reports tingling around the mouth and has a positive Chvostek sign. What laboratory finding would be most helpful to the healthcare professional?
◦ TSH and T
4◦ Serum sodium
◦ Serum calcium
◦ Urine osmolality
Question 2
A patient diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has the following laboratory values: arterial pH 7.20; serum glucose 500 mg/dL; positive urine glucose and ketones; serum potassium (K+) 2 mEq/L; serum sodium (Na+) 130 mEq/L. The patient reports that he has been sick with the “flu” for 1 week. What relationship do these values have to his insulin deficiency?
◦ Increased glucose use causes the shift of fluid from the intravascular to the intracellular space.
◦ Decreased glucose use causes fatty acid use, ketogenesis, metabolic acidosis, and osmotic diuresis.
◦ Increased glucose and fatty acids stimulate renal diuresis, electrolyte loss, and metabolic alkalosis.
◦ Decreased glucose use results in protein catabolism, tissue wasting, respiratory acidosis, and electrolyte loss.
Lab values
Positioning the Patient in the Fowler’s Position
Laboratory Requisition Information
A histologic slide showing the sponge-like architecture of a patient with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.
Amyloid plaques (stained blue) in the brain of a deceased patient who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Gingival enlargement in a patient taking phenytoin.