title: Standardising dialysate potassium does not increase patient risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rapid intradialytic potassium shifts during haemodialysis have been associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Standardising dialysate potassium to 2 mmol/l may decrease the potassium shift.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of standardising dialysate potassium to 2 mmol/l for all chronic dialysis treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and post-intervention comparison of monthly serum potassium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven individuals, of whom 56 patients could be matched across both data collection periods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum potassium data were categorised based on a target range 3.5-6.0 mmol/l. Overall pre- and post-intervention mean scores were compared using a paired samples t-test. Data for patients routinely prescribed dialysate potassium 1 mmol/l pre-intervention (n = 6) underwent paired samples t-test to compare their mean serum potassium pre- and post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant change in serum potassium post-intervention. The majority of patients remained within the target range, including the subset of patients who had a history of high serum potassium during the pre-intervention period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A standard potassium dialysate of 2 mmol/l may reduce intradialytic serum potassium shifts and may assist in standardising safer work practices.
authors.affiliation: Moorabbin Dialysis Unit, Southern Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. kristopher.abeleda@southernhealth.org.au
authors.forename: Kristoffer L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Abeleda
authors.forename: Paul N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Cherene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ockerby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000097:blood / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000592:standards*; D012016:Reference Values; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000592:standards*; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D015312:Hemodialysis Solutions; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Dialysate; Haemodialysis; Hyperkalaemia; Potassium