Something wrong with this T wave.... what is it?

 
Severe hyperkalaemia is a medical emergency due to the risk of arrythmia. However, most of the cases have been badly managed by the house officer.

The following changes may be seen in hyperkalaemia

• small or absent P waves
• atrial fibrillation 
• prolonged PR interval
• wide QRS
• shortened or absent ST segment
• wide, tall and tented T waves
• ventricular fibrillation

Click here for the example of the ECG changes.

 Management of Hyperkalaemia

Treatment of hyperkalaemia involves stabilizing the myocardium to prevent arrhythmias, shifting potassium back into the intracellular space and removing excess potassium from the body.
1. Correct Serious Conduction Abnormalities (Calcium)

• Calcium is a very useful agent. It does not lower the serum potassium level, but instead is used to stabilise the myocardium, as a temporising measure. Calcium is indicated if there is widening of QRS, sine wave pattern (when S and T waves merge together), or in hyperkalaemic cardiac arrest.
• The ‘cardiac membrane stabilising effects’ take about 15-30mins.
• Calcium Chloride
  • Dose: Calcium Chloride 10% 5-10mL
  • 3 x more potent than Calcium Gluconate
  • Complication: severe thrombophlebitis
• Calcium Gluconate:
  • Dose: Calcium Gluconate 10% 5-10mL
  • Less potent, less irritating to veins
• Potential Complications of Calcium administration
  • Bradycardia, hypotension and peripheral vasodilation
  • Generally these occur if administered too quickly
  • Avoid in digoxin toxicity (use magnesium as alternative)

2. Drive Potassium into the Cell:

• Insulin & Glucose
  • Dose: IV fast acting insulin (actrapid) 10-20 units and glucose/dextrose 50g 25-50ml
  • Insulin drives potassium into cells and administering glucose prevents hypoglycaemia.
  • Begins to work in 20-30mins reduces potassium by 1mmol/L and ECG changes within the first hour
• Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Dose: 50- 200mmol of 8.4% Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Bicarbonate is only effective at driving Potassium intracellullarly if the patient is acidotic
  • Begins working in 30-60 minutes and continues to work for several hours.
• Salbutamol
  • Dose: 10-20mg via nebulizer
  • Beta 2 agonist therapy lower K via either IV or nebulizer route.
  • Salbutamol can lower potassium level 1mmol/L in about 30 minutes, and maintain it for up to 2 hours.
  • Very effective in renal patients that are fluid overloaded

3. Eliminate Potassium From the Body:

• Calcium Resonium
  • Dose: 15-45g orally or rectally, mixed with sorbitol or lactulose
  • Calcium polystyrene sulfonate is a large insoluble molecule that binds potassium in the large intestine, where it is excreted in faeces
  • Effects take 2-3 hours
• Frusemide
  • Dose: 20-80mg depending on hydration status
  • Potassium wasting diuretic. Helps to urinary excrete potassium in conjunction with hydration or fluid overloaded patients
• Normal Saline
  • Used to help renally excrete potassium, by increasing renal perfusion and urinary output. Cautious use in patients with renal & heart failure
• Dialysis
  • Is the gold standard for removing potassium from the body. Provides immediate and reliable removal.
  • Can lower potassium by 1mmol/L in first hour and another 1mmol/L over the next 2 hours.