Treatment and treatment of hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is an electrolycular disorder that can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Treatment of hyperkalemia needs to be quick, urgent.

Normal serum potassium concentrations remain at 3.5-5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/l). Hyperkalemia is defined when blood potassium levels exceed 5.5 mmol/L. Hyperkalemia depends on the degree and response of each case with different symptoms of severe or mild symptoms. However, hyperkalemia levels are usually based on serum blood potassium levels, which in particular will have appropriate handling attitudes for each case.

• Mild levels when potassium is 5.2 – 6.0 mmol/l
• Average level when potassium blood is from 6.0 – 6.4 mmol/l
• Severe levels when potassiumemia increases above 6.5 mmol/l

Clinical symptoms often appear late, when blood potassium increases much, especially when there is an increase in emergency blood potassium and symptoms that significantly affect the nervous system, heart and muscles:

• Neurological disorders: Itching, numbness, paresthesia, especially the area around the mouth and lower estm, lethargy, confusion, psychotic disorders
• Sysular disorders: Feeling tired, muscle weakness, loss of tendon reflexes, sometimes soft paralysis, shortness of breath and decreased pulmonary ventilation due to respiratory muscle paralysis
• Heart: Arrhythmia, cardiac arrest; urinary disorders; smooth muscles: Vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes intestinal paralysis.

More serious symptoms of hyperkalemia include: Bradycardia and weak pulse. Severe hyperkalemia can lead to fatal cardiac arrest. In general, a slow increase in potassium levels (such as chronic renal failure) makes the body better tolerated than sudden increases in potassium levels. Unless the increase in potassium is very rapid, the symptoms of hyperkalemia are usually unclear until the potassium concentration is very high (usually 7.0 mEq/l or higher).

With mild hyperkalemia, patients with less clinical symptoms or electrocardicardiosis will often be treated without hospitalization, especially if the patient's general condition is stable and there are no accompanying conditions such as acidosis or impaired renal function. Patients will be examined, checked blood potassium levels, kidney function, medications being used, diet … adjust with oral medications or change the medication being treated accordingly. Make an appointment for re-examination after 3-5 days as directed by the medical staff.

With severe cases of hyperkalemia, patients may present with cardiovascular disorders, sometimes dying quickly if not given emergency and timely treatment. Therefore, when there is hyperkalemia combined with changes in the electrocardiary or clinical symptoms it is necessary to immediately take measures to rapidly lower the concentration of serum potassium.

In severe cases, hyperkalemia, patients should be unable to stay in bed, have electrocardiose monitors, SpO2, put intravenous lines and prepare drugs and emergency means of hyperkalemia, prepare electric shock machines (if any).

The necessary measures to bring blood potassium back to normal in mild to severe levels (these should be prescribed by a specialist according to the doctor, not allowed to be taken at home without the control of the medical staff).

• The reduced diet puts potassium into the body.
• Stop drugs that increase blood potassium levels (potassium tablets, antitensive drugs that cause hyperkalemia, died dies that cause hyperkalemia)
• Intravenous glucose infusion with insulin phase helps to increase potassium transport from the cell cavity into the cells.
• Intravenous calcium to protect the heart and muscles temporarily due to the effects of hyperkalemia.
• Sodium bicarbonate is 1.4% anti-acid and promotes potassium transport from cell intervals into cells.
• Use dies to reduce blood potassium through increased discharge of potassium through urine.
• Beta-2 adrenergic receptor stimulants (albuterol, epinephrine) are also used to promote potassium transport into cells.
• The drug is known as resin exchange cation (Resonium A), binds to potassium and excretes it through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Emergency dialysis is in place, especially when other measures fail or in patients with exacerbated renal failure or exacerbated chronic renal failure.

In addition, there may be some cases of "artificial" hyperkalemia, that is, when the serum blood potassium index rises above the threshold of diagnosis of hyperkalemia but the cause of hyperkalemia is not found and there are no clinical or electrocardiological symptoms, the following causes should be found. :

• The location of the blood is removed for too long causing anemia.
• Red blood cells are broken when taking samples for testing.
• Excessive leukocytes (> 50 G/L) or tthukemia (> 1000 G/L) cause blood samples to clot and release potassium from the cell.

In these cases it is recommended to re-examine blood potassium levels before carrying out treatment measures.

Customers can directly go to Share99 Health System nationwide for examination or contact the hotline here for assistance.

SEE MORE:

• Causes and effects of hypokalemia
• What is the body like if excess – lack of potassium in the blood?
• Does your body have enough Potassium?