Ca Gluconate must be given immediately if K > 6.5; think of it as "no point in hydrating or pushing K into cells with insulin if they will die rn of an arrhythmia"
Ca will stabilize immediately, which is why its initial tx.
lindasmith462I mean I get that Calcium is the right answer (it acts the fastest in 1-3 min) but its supper annoying because you'd be giving insulin and glucose AT THE SAME TIME too - they just take longer to work once you put them in.... +1
Patient has missed several days of dialysis and was found down in his house (which can lead to rhabdomyolysis), giving this patient 2 reasons to have metabolic acidosis with hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia can lead to abnormal heart rhythms that can lead to patient death, so patients who have hyperkalemia with one of the following three features should first receive calcium gluconate to stabilize the cardiac membrane prior to trying to reduce potassium levels: (1) Potassium > 7.0 (2) ECG changes (Peaked T waves, PR prolongation and QRS widening, disappearance of P wave) (3) Rapidly rising potassium due to tissue breakdown or tumor lysis syndrome
submitted by โwelpdedelp(270)
Ca Gluconate must be given immediately if K > 6.5; think of it as "no point in hydrating or pushing K into cells with insulin if they will die rn of an arrhythmia"
Ca will stabilize immediately, which is why its initial tx.