A 70 year old man presents after feeling acutely unwell a few hours ago. He complains of weakness, lethargy and a painful knee. On examination he is diaphoretic and looks unwell.
He is currently on treatment for diabetes, heart failure, AF, HTN
Vitals:
BP 160/50
PR 50/min
RR 22/min
T 36 celsius
His blood results are as follows:
Na 124 mmol/l (134-145)
K >8.0 mmol/l (3.4-5.5)
Cl 87 mmol/l (95-108)
HCO3 16 mmol/l (22-32)
Urea 25 mmol/l (3-8)
Creat 286 umol/l (40-120)
Lactate 15.7 mmol/l (< 2)
Glucose 40 mmol/l (4-6)
pH 7.20 (7.36-7.44)
pCO2 43 mmHg (36-44)
urine ketones ++
Questions
1. Describe the abnormalities
2. Interpret your findings
3. What are your priorities in treatment?
4. What complications would you consider?
Moderate acidaemia
Moderate metabolic acidosis
Expected pCO2 is 16×1.5 + 8 = 32
but can’t really comment if venous gas, if arterial, has mild resp acidosis also.
Strong ion difference = 37 is fine (normal is 38)
Anion gap is raised at 21
Delta ratio is 9/8, so isolated HAGMA, with respiratory as mentioned above.
Critical hyperkalaemia. Expected K for pH is 5.0 + 2×0.5 = 6.0
Hyponatraemia. Expected Na for Glucose is 35/3 + 124 = 133.
Severe hyperlactaemia: A – hypoperfusion/shock – from DKA, dehydration
B1 from sepsis, ?septic joint
B2 – toxins. Diabetic, ?metformin, but likely T1DM with DKA
Hypochloraemia – due to hyponatraemia
Glucose 40, DKA
Urea, creatinine raised.
Renal failure, check old results.
Urea:creat ratio <100. Not pre-renal (but should be with DKA!)
Ketones in urine – ?DKA, ?starvation
Interpret:
Moderate metabolic acidosis.
Unclear re compensation given unknown if venous or arterial gas.
Likely DKA from septic joint, may not have mounted a fever due to age, not tachy
due to probable beta-blockers.
Embolus to limb less likely given history, but a possibility with AF.
Priorities:
Rehydrate, CSL. Judicious with hx of heart failure.
ECG, check blood ketones.
Ca gluconate 10ml 10%
Ca resonium 30g PR
Insulin 10units IV (for potassium)
Bloods, consider knee aspirate for Gram stain, MC+S
Antibiotics for knee with discussion with ortho.
Then insulin infusion post fluid, until clearance of ketones.
100% O2, given very high lactate, check carbon monoxide and cyanide is always a
possibility.
High risk of arrhythmia also.
Simon, good effort. Think more broadly, all is not what it seems
in addition to what simon says, could this be hyperglycaemic hyper osmotic state with profound dehydration and AKI rather than dka.
I like it Richard. Tell me more
HHS. Good point. I
Abnormalities and Interpretation
1) Apparent hyponatraemia in context of hyperglycaemia, with a corrected Na of 135
2) Hyperkalaemia from combination dehydration, renal failure, hyperglycaemia
3) High anion gap metabolic acidosis. With both ketones and lactate but no significant acidaemia and no ketones mentioned in blood. Osmolality 313. Likely HHS.
4) Renal failure contributions possibly from dehydration and diabetic nephropathy
5) high glucose with ketones in urine but no significant acidosis. Likely HHS
6) leg pain. Arterial thrombus known to complicate HHS. Perhaps secondary to a mural thrombus.
Priorities in treatment
1) Give IVH will assist the renal function, help correct the K as well as the hyperglycaemic state.
2) Correct K, keep in mind that as the BSL lowers so too will the K. Give IV calcium gluconate, bicarbonate, salbutamol neb, Insulin/dextrose as well as resonium
4) Give insulin infusion to correct hyperglycaemia and also to treat hyperkalaemia
5) Consider anticoagulation depending on further testing including troponin, doppler US and echo.
Complications considered
1) MI and peripheral arterial thrombus (linked to HHS)
2) Development into DKA which can result in obtundation and the need for intubation
3) Complications relating to worsening renal failure including oliguria, worsening acidosis, worsening hyperkalaemia requiring dialysis