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Management of severe hyperkalaemia

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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Severe hyperkalaemia has been defined in this context as plasma potassium of greater than 6.4 mmol/litre.

  • it is considered as a life threatening condition due to its serious cardiac and neuromuscular effects (e.g. - cardiac arrest and paralysis of the respiratory muscles)
  • urgent treatment is warranted in the following patients
    • serum potassium concentration of greater than 6.5 mmol/l regardless of ECG changes
    • serum potassium concentration of greater than 6.0 mmol/l with ECG changes
  • pre-emptive treatment is also recommended in the following patients:
    • rapid rise of serum potassium
    • the presence of significant acidosis
    • rapid deterioration in renal function (1)

Management of severe hyperkalaemic patient involves the following steps:

  • clinically assess the patient
  • check that the potassium level is not an artefact e.g. that the sample was not haemolysed
  • stop any infusions containing potassium or drugs causing potassium retention
  • obtain an ECG and place on constant monitoring
  • immediate treatment principals include:
  • protect the heart - to reduce arrhythmias
    • calcium chloride, 10 mL of 10% solution IV over 5 to 10 minutes, or calcium gluconate, 30 mL of 10% solution IV over 5 to 10 minutes
      • has no effect on plasma potassium concentration
      • beneficial ECG changes can be seen after 1-3 minutes of administration and the effect can last for 30-60 minutes
      • dose could be repeated if follow up ECG after 5 minitues continues to show signs of hyperkalaemia
      • calcium is known to potentiate cardiac toxicity of digoxin, hence caution should be exercised in administering calcium to patients taking digoxin

  • shift potassium into cells
    • insulin-glucose (10 units soluble insulin in 25g glucose) by intravenous infusion
      • hypokalaemic effect of this treatment can be seen within 20 minutes, peaking between 30 and 60 minutes, and it may last for 6 hours
      • effect is temporary and hence requires a slow continuous infusion and frequent capillary blood glucose (CBG) monitoring
    • nebulised salbutamol -
      • at a dose of 10-20 mg diluted in 4 ml of normal saline, given through a nebuliser
      • effect may be seen in 30 minutes, with maximum effect at 90–120 minutes.
      • can be used alone or to augment the effect of insulin
        • UK renal association recommends that salbutamol should not be used as monotherapy in the treatment of severe hyperkalaemia
    • intravenous sodium bicarbonate (500 ml of a 1.26% solution [75 mmol] over 60 minutes)
      • although often used for treatment, its benefit is uncertain and routine use for treatment of hyperkalaemia remains controversial

  • remove potassium from the body
    • cation-exchange resins are not used in the emergency treatment of severe hyperkalaemia (1,2)
    • patiromer
      • NICE suggest that (3): (3)
        • patiromer is recommended as an option for treating hyperkalaemia in adults in emergency care for acute life-threatening hyperkalaemia alongside standard care
        • noted that patiromer would not replace intravenous insulin and glucose, but it might replace calcium resonium

Once the patient is stabilised:

  • avoid potassium sparing or retaining drugs e.g. potassium sparing diuretics (e.g. frumil), beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, NSAIDS, aspirin
  • a low potassium diet

Notes (1):

  • the threshold for emergency treatment varies, but most guidelines recommend that emergency treatment should be given if the serum K+ is >= 6.5 mmol/L with or without ECG changes

Reference:


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