Review of Hemodialysis for Nurses and Dialysis Personnel by Judith Z. Kallenbach

Author:Judith Z. Kallenbach [Kallenbach, Judith Z.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Medical, Nursing, Reference
ISBN: 9780323171069
Publisher: Mosby
Published: 2012-12-11T14:00:00+00:00

How is low potassium treated?

Dietary intake of potassium may need to be increased and intravenous potassium may be given if a rapid rise in the serum potassium level is needed. Dialyzing the patient on a higher potassium bath will minimize diffusion of potassium and help to maintain the serum level.

What is hyperkalemia?

Hyperkalemia is a serum potassium level greater than 5.5 mEq/L and usually the result of excessive dietary intake of high-potassium foods. The expected value for a patient on dialysis is 3.6 to 5.0 mEq/L. Other causes of increased serum potassium are catabolic states, tissue or crush injury, blood transfusions, GI bleeding, hemolysis, missed dialysis treatments, and acidosis. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, shortness of breath, dizziness, diarrhea, muscle weakness, hypotension, electrocardiogram changes, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. The rapidity of the change in potassium level rather than the actual serum measurement is a greater influence of the degree of symptoms produced.

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