title: Slow Down to Brake: Effects of Tapering Epinephrine on Potassium.
abstract: Hyperkalemia is not an uncommon complication of cardiac surgical procedures. Intractable hyperkalemia is a difficult situation that can even lead to death. We report on a postoperative case in a patient in whom a sudden decrease of epinephrine led to intractable hyperkalemia and cardiac arrest. We wish to draw the reader's attention to the issue that sudden discontinuation of epinephrine can lead to dangerous hyperkalemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur, Chennai, India. Electronic address: sp116@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Sivaprasad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veerbhadran
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Asher Ennis
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nayagam
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Railway Headquarters Hospital, Perambur, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Jaganathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raghavan
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium; D004837:Epinephrine