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Hyperkalemia

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hyperkalemia
Other namesHyperkalaemia
Electrocardiography showing precordial leads in hyperkalemia.
Pronunciation
Medical specialtyCritical care medicine and nephrology
SymptomsPalpitations, muscle pain, muscle weakness, numbness[1][2]
ComplicationsCardiac arrest[1][3]
CausesKidney failure, hypoaldosteronism, rhabdomyolysis and certain medications[1]
Diagnostic methodBlood potassium > 5.5 mmol/L, electrocardiogram[3][4]
Differential diagnosisPseudohyperkalemia[1][2]
TreatmentMedications, hemodialysis and low potassium diet[1]
MedicationCalcium gluconate, dextrose, with insulin, salbutamol and sodium bicarbonate[1][3][5]
Frequency2%[2]

Hyperkalemia is a word in medicine to refer to a situation where the level of potassium in the blood is too high. Depending on the level of potassium in a person's bloodstream, it can be a medical emergency. A level that is too high can lead to abnormal hearth rhythms.

Many medications can cause hyperkalemia, and it is much more likely to occur in people kidney problems. Although hyperkalemia often does not cause symptoms, doctors worry about hyperkalemia because it can cause a sudden change of heart rhythm in those who had not been having any symptoms. These abnormal heart rhythms can be deadly.

Death penalty

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In cases where death penalty is carried out with lethal injection, a hyperkalemia may be provoked artificially. Some of the mixtures used in the injections contain potassium chloride which will raise the level of potassium in a person's bloodstream considerably.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Lehnhardt, Anja; Kemper, Markus J. (March 2011). "Pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of hyperkalemia". Pediatric Nephrology. 26 (3): 377–384. doi:10.1007/s00467-010-1699-3. PMC 3061004. PMID 21181208.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 McDonald, Timothy J; Oram, Richard A; Vaidya, Bijay (20 October 2015). "Investigating hyperkalaemia in adults". BMJ. 351: h4762. doi:10.1136/bmj.h4762. PMID 26487322. S2CID 206907572.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Soar, Jasmeet; Perkins, Gavin D.; Abbas, Gamal; Alfonzo, Annette; Barelli, Alessandro; Bierens, Joost J.L.M.; Brugger, Hermann; Deakin, Charles D.; Dunning, Joel; Georgiou, Marios; Handley, Anthony J.; Lockey, David J.; Paal, Peter; Sandroni, Claudio; Thies, Karl-Christian; Zideman, David A.; Nolan, Jerry P. (October 2010). "European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2010 Section 8. Cardiac arrest in special circumstances: Electrolyte abnormalities, poisoning, drowning, accidental hypothermia, hyperthermia, asthma, anaphylaxis, cardiac surgery, trauma, pregnancy, electrocution". Resuscitation. 81 (10): 1400–1433. doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2010.08.015. PMID 20956045.
  4. Pathy, M.S. John (2006). "Appendix 1: Conversion of SI Units to Standard Units". Principles and practice of geriatric medicine. Vol. 2 (4th ed.). Chichester [u.a.]: Wiley. p. Appendix. doi:10.1002/047009057X.app01. ISBN 9780470090558.
  5. Mahoney, Brian A; Smith, Willard AD; Lo, Dorothy; Tsoi, Keith; Tonelli, Marcello; Clase, Catherine (20 April 2005). "Emergency interventions for hyperkalaemia". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2005 (2): CD003235. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003235.pub2. PMC 6457842. PMID 15846652.