title: [Hyperkalemic emergency: causes, diagnosis and therapy].
abstract: Eight patients with life threatening hyperkalemia were treated in the intensive care unit over a period of 2 years. Serum potassium at admission was 7.1-11.2. Two patients had to be resuscitated and 3 exhibited quadriplegia or paralyses but were alert. Seven showed marked ECG change: in 5 the QRS-complexes were extremely broadened and in one case an AV-rhythm was observed; the atrial wave was absent in all 7 patients. Renal failure was present in 7 of 8 patients. In 6 of these 8 cases drugs were also involved in the development of hyperkalemia. The following therapeutic procedure is recommended for hyperkalemia: (1) injection of calcium, (2) inhalation or injection of beta 2-mimetics (well documented in the literature; clinical experience limited), (3) insulin and glucose i.v., (4) sodium bicarbonate, but only in case of metabolic acidosis, (5) hemodialysis, (6) cation exchange resins or furosemide in non-acute situations.
authors.affiliation: Departement Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital Basel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamm
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ritz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Truniger
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000150:complications; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002125:Calcium Gluconate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003422:Critical Care; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002125:Calcium Gluconate
vernacular_title: Der hyperkaliämische Notfall: Ursache, Diagnose und Therapie.