HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Hyperkalemia during human cardiopulmonary resuscitation: incidence and ramifications.

Abstract
Although hypokalemia has been reported after cardiac arrest and successful resuscitation, experimental data indicate that potassium is released from cells during ischemia. The purpose of this investigation was to study serum potassium concentration ([K+]) during closed chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CC-CPR) in humans. Twenty-two patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) in cardiopulmonary arrest had simultaneous measurement of central venous and arterial [K+] and blood gases during CC-CPR utilizing current advanced cardiac life support protocols and a pneumatic chest compressor and ventilator. Mean arterial and central venous [K+] were 5.0 +/- 1.3 and 5.6 +/- 2.9 mEq/L, respectively, (p greater than .05) with 7 patients having [K+] of greater than 6 mEq/L. Significant hyperkalemia does occur in some patients during cardiac arrest and CC-CPR. Because poor tissue perfusion during CC-CPR impairs exchange between the interstitial and intravascular compartments, increases in interstitial [K+] would be expected to be even greater. Interstitial hyperkalemia may play a role in the genesis of wide complex electromechanical dissociation (EMD) seen after prolonged cardiac arrest. Since calcium has long been known to be beneficial in the treatment of hyperkalemia-induced dysrhythmias, the success of calcium chloride in treating wide complex EMD may be on the basis of this phenomenon.
AuthorsG B Martin, R M Nowak, J E Cisek, D L Carden, M C Tomlanovich
JournalThe Journal of emergency medicine (J Emerg Med) 1989 Mar-Apr Vol. 7 Issue 2 Pg. 109-13 ISSN: 0736-4679 [Print] United States
PMID2786902 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Calcium Chloride
Topics
  • Aged
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac (drug therapy, etiology)
  • Calcium Chloride (therapeutic use)
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Arrest (complications)
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia (epidemiology, etiology, physiopathology)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Resuscitation

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: