electrolyte imbalance

imbalance

 [im-bal´ans]

1. dysequilibrium (def. 2).

2. lack of balance; especially lack of balance between muscles, as in insufficiency of ocular muscles.

autonomic imbalance defective coordination between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, especially with respect to vasomotor activities.

electrolyte imbalance serum concentrations of an electrolyte that are either higher or lower than normal; see discussion and table under electrolyte.

fluid volume imbalance abnormally decreased or increased fluid volume or rapid shift from one compartment of body fluid to another. See also deficient fluid volume and excess fluid volume.

risk for fluid volume imbalance a nursing diagnosis accepted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, defined as being at risk for a decrease, increase, or rapid shift from one to the other of intravascular, interstitial, and/or intracellular fluid; this refers to body fluid loss, gain, or both. See also deficient fluid volume and excess fluid volume.

sympathetic imbalance vagotonia.

vasomotor imbalance autonomic imbalance.

Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

electrolyte imbalance

Critical care A general term for a derangement of major electrolytes–Na⁺, K⁺, chloride; thus defined, EI is common; in practice, EIs are only of interest if they cause clinical disease

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

e·lec·tro·lyte im·bal·ance

(ē-lektrō-līt im-baĺăns)

Physiologic disorder in which there are fewer or more than normal levels of serum electrolytes.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012