title: Hyperkalemia and the electrocardiogram in dogs.
abstract: Rapid i.v. injection of 2 ml KCl solution with 0.1 mmol/kg abruptly doubles the basal concentration of coronary artery serum K and produces no ECG change; 2 ml with 0.3 mmol KCl/kg quadruples it and provokes fibrillation of the ventricular myocardium in 18 s, there is no visible effect on atrial activity. Continuous infusion of 2 mEq KCl/kg body weight gradually doubles basal serum K concentration and produces ECG changes that herald the imminent onset of ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular myocardium and, especially, the sinus node are more tolerant of transient than of prolonged hyperkalemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hiatt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hiatt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium