Arrhythmia Protection in Hypokalemia

Arrhythmia Protection in Hypokalemia: A Novel Role of Ca2+-Activated K+ Currents in the Ventricle.

Clinical Manifestations of Hypokalemia

Cardiovascular Abnormal electrocardiogram Predisposition for digitalis toxicity Atrial ventricular arrhythmias Hypertension Neuromuscular Smooth muscle Constipation/ileus Bladder dysfunction Skeletal muscle Weakness/cramps Tetany Paralysis Myalgias/rhabdomyolysis Renal/electrolyte Functional alterations Decreased glomerular filtration rate Decreased renal blood flow Renal concentrating defect I...

Ritodrine-Induced Hypokalemia

A 31-year-old woman presented with chest discomfort in the 22nd week of pregnancy. She had been treated with an intravenous infusion of ritodrine hydrochloride (0.25 mg/min) for preterm labor the prior day. On physical examination, the body temperature was 36.3°C, the blood pressure was 117/68 mmHg, the pulse was 96 beats/min, and the respiratory rate was 20 breaths/min. Electrocardiography (EC...

Occult causes of hypokalemia.

Most causes of hypokalemia are obvious from the clinical picture and the values for plasma electrolytes. In cases with obscure etiology, a pretreatment estimation of urinary potassium and chloride often helps lead the clinician into new and fruitful avenues of clinical investigation. Here we present four cases of hypokalemia in which the pathogenesis was initially enigmatic but was clarified so...

ECG diagnosis: hypokalemia.

Joel T Levis, MD, PhD, FACEP, FAAEM, is a Senior Emergency Medicine Physician at the Santa Clara Medical Center, and Clinical Instructor of Emergency Medicine (Surgery) at Stanford University. He is the Medical Director for the Foothill College Paramedic Program in Los Altos, CA. E-mail: [email protected]. Figure 1. 12-lead ECG from a 21-year-old man with syncope, generalized weakness, and seve...