Lecture: Fluid & Electrolytes balance

Understand the concept of water and electrolyte balance and identify main processes which lead to fluid and electrolyte loss.
Identify the main electrolytes that may be potentially lost through the gastrointestinal tract
Understand the mechanism of intestinal transport of glucose and apply this knowledge to treatment of dehydration.
Understand the mechanism of intestinal secretion of chloride ion and its role in the development of severe diarrhoea.
Know the basic classification of diarrhoea and its main causes.
Appreciate the importance of child diarrhoea as a public health problem worldwide.
Understand the role of osmolality changes in determining water movement between intracellular and extracellular fluid, and the relevance of this to the treatment of fluid and electrolyte disorders.
Know main types of available intravenous fluids and their principal use.
Describe factors which determine the rate of fluid replacement.
Know the principles of safe potassium replacement.
Know cardiac elects of hypokalaemia and hyperkalaemia.
Develop a systematic approach to the assessment of a patient with suspected fluid/electrolyte disorder

Part 1 - Key concepts in fluid balance