The main function of the heart is to pump oxygenated blood from the heart, throughout the body, and return oxygen depleted blood to the lungs. This cycle takes only 13 seconds and is interrupted in acute heart failure. The contraction of heart muscles, the resistance of blood vessels and valves all maintain the pressure andContinue reading “Acute Heart Failure: A Comprehensive Overview of Pathophysiology”
Tag Archives: healthcare
How to Assess Renal Function: 3 Blood Markers & Calculations
Normal renal function supports all organs in maintaining homeostasis. The kidneys are responsible for many critical processes in the body. Filtration: the kidneys remove waste products like urea and creatinine which accumulate as a byproduct of normal metabolic processes. Fluid Balance: The kidneys regulate how much water is eliminated and reabsorbed. Which in turn contributesContinue reading “How to Assess Renal Function: 3 Blood Markers & Calculations”
Renal Injury: What You Need to Know
Normal Renal Function The kidneys has many roles including filtration of blood to remove waste. Within the kidneys waste is filtered at the glomerulus. Waste exists the kidneys via the tubules as urine. Filtered blood is returned to the body. Categories of Renal Injury There are three broad categories of renal injury based on whereContinue reading “Renal Injury: What You Need to Know”
Anion Gap & Neutrality: Filling in the Knowledge Gap
The anion gap is a calculation that measures the balance of select negative and positive charges (anion and cations respectively) in plasma. Anion gap is critical for the assessment of acid -base disorders which is an umbrella diagnosis that has many causes including renal failure, toxicities, sepsis and diabetic ketoacidosis. Though the name suggests thereContinue reading “Anion Gap & Neutrality: Filling in the Knowledge Gap”
How to Calculate Osmolarity in 4 Easy Steps
Osmolarity is a measure of concentration. Concentration, regardless of the different units that can be used, is the ratio of mass and quantity. When concentration is expressed as osmolarity, mass is the number of osmoles and quantity is volume in liters. When is Osmolarity Useful Osmolarity permeates many aspects of medicine: Homeostasis The concept ofContinue reading “How to Calculate Osmolarity in 4 Easy Steps”
How to Perform Alligation Calculations: Grid Method
When faced with complex dosing problems, understanding alligation calculations can be crucial for determining the right proportions of solutions in pharmaceutical preparations. Clinical scenario: The neonatologist orders D12% for a 2 day old neonate. What would you do? Chat GPT or Google? On a 2 day old? Even the most trusted clinical calculators have theContinue reading “How to Perform Alligation Calculations: Grid Method”
How to Read Valence in 4 Easy Steps
Reading valence on the periodic table is often relegated to soon forgotten introductory chemistry. However it is applicable to more complex concepts in pharmacology calculations like milliequivalent and osmolarity. Unfortunately concepts are usually taught in silos. Being able to integrate concepts is necessary for advanced application rather than short term memorization. The goal is toContinue reading “How to Read Valence in 4 Easy Steps”
Read an ABG in 4 Simple Steps
Arterial Blood Gas Terminology Arterial blood gas (ABGs) are drawn from arterial blood and measures the concentration of concentration of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood among other things. Everything we will discuss is centered around the goal of maintaining a normal blood pH. The general term used for pathologies surrounding blood pH isContinue reading “Read an ABG in 4 Simple Steps”
Statistics: How to Calculate Odds Ratio in 4 Simple Steps
Odds ratio is measure of probability. It is typically explained together with risk ratio or relative risk. I am opting to address these separately so that we can understand them as distinct assessments of probability. The concept of statistical risk of more intuitive. Odds requires more orientation. The concept of odds is usually thrown inContinue reading “Statistics: How to Calculate Odds Ratio in 4 Simple Steps”
Community Acquired Pneumonia: When to Admit to ICU and How to Treat
In this unit we will discuss the subset of patients with community acquired pneumonia who are at a higher risk for morbidity and mortality. Those patients require a high level of inpatient care and should be admitted directly to intensive care. In the unit Community Acquired Pneumonia: Inpatient Treatment we introduced the CURB 65 score.Continue reading “Community Acquired Pneumonia: When to Admit to ICU and How to Treat”