Question

While treating burn patients. Kim, a recently graduated RN, notices that they contain increased levels of potassium in their urine. Explain why Megans patients are experiencing the symptoms?

Answer 1

Burns cause third space loss of blood volume. Burns causes tissues to release cytokines which causes vasodilation . Vasodilation leads to increased evaporation of fluid and leaky vessels which cause albumin to move out of the vessels into the interstitium. This decreases the colloid osmotic pressure in the vessels and fluid is pushed into the interstitium. This causes third space loss. Hypovolemia occurs. In order to preserve the blood volume, aldosterone is released which acts on the P cells of collecting tubules of nephrons and and cause Sodium and water reabsorption and excretion of potassium. More amount of Na and water will be reabsorbed and K will be excreted more. This causes increased K in the urine.