Hyperkalemia is a medical emergency that can induce deadly cardiac arrhythmias. Treatment of hyperkalemia can be thought of in three distinct steps. First, antagonize the effects of hyperkalemia at the cellular level (membrane stabilization) by administering calcium gluconate; secondly, decrease serum potassium by promoting potassium into cells through co-administration of glucose and insulin a...

In recent years it has become increasingly evident that a depletion of body potassium may occur in a number of conditions. The relationship of a fall in the serum potassium to the attacks of -familial periodic paralysis is well known. Potassium deficiency has also been found in infantile diarrhoea, intestinal obstruction with vomiting, sprue, renal insufficiency, diabetic coma, Addison's diseas...

polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hetrogenous condition with a broad clinical and pathologic spectrum that may reflect the effects of diverse etiologic factors. polycystic ovarian syndrome is an abnormality in the maturation of the follicles which can result in abnormal composition of follicular fluid. by analysis and comparison of the biochemical composition of human follicular fluid in normal ...

Case series show that hypokalemia following initiation of diuretic therapy occurs in most patients within 2 to 8 weeks. However, no studies are available that adequately predict the risk of this complex and multifactorial condition. Patients taking diuretics should have a potassium level checked in the first 2 to 8 weeks after initiating therapy. Mild hypokalemia (3.1 to 3.4 mmol/L) may be tran...

Serum potassium levels were measured before and during electroconvulsive therapy, in patients anaesthetized with methohexitone and thiopentone. In no case was any dangerous potassium level recorded. In patients anaesthetized with methohexitone, serum potassium levels showed a significant rise following the injection of suxamethonium and an induced convulsion. Patients anaesthetized with thiopen...

The present study was undertaken to estimate the serum urea, creatinine and electrolyte status of patients presenting with acute gastroenteritis. Sixty patients who presented to Kathmandu Medical College and Teaching hospital from 15 June to 15 July 2005 with acute diarrhea with or without associated vomiting, causing dehydration severe enough to require hospital admission were investigated for...

Humans are prone to sodium overload and potassium depletion. This electrolyte imbalance is important in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac death. Avoiding hypokalemia is beneficial in several cardiovascular disease states including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and hypertension. The evidence highlighting the importance of potassium homeostasis in cardiov...

A 52-year-old woman was referred to our hospital due to chronic renal failure with a 10-year history of hypertension. We found polycystic kidney disease, pulmonary tuberculosis and an aldosterone-producing adrenocortical mass. At this time, her serum potassium level and blood pressure were within the normal range. She refused hemodialysis and then was hospitalized because of uremic encephalopat...

Biochemical studies directed toward finding a difference in the blood composition of normal and epileptic subjects have thus far been unfruitful. In the course of other studies at this laboratory (1), it was observed that the pattern of change in the plasma potassium level after an injection of epinephrine in a subject afflicted with epilepsy was different from that found in normal subjects sim...

The purpose of this study was to find out the impact of acute respiratory acidosis on serum potassium level during laparoscopy. The study was performed on ninety patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery. Ventilation parameters were kept constant throughout the study. Samples for assessment of blood gases were collected in the following sequence: before pneumoperitoneum, a the 20th minute of ...