POTASSIUM Chloride

1) Therapeutic drug action & mechanism(pharmacology)

• Potassium supplement

2) Indications

• Prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of potassium depletion

3) Effects on organs—side effects

4) Toxic effects/ precautions with administration

• Hyperkalaemia

• Cardiac arrhythmias

• Cardiac arrest

• Monitor ECG & serum potassium levels

5) Contraindications

• Hyperkalaemia

• Renal failure

6) Reversal, antagonism or antidote

• Lasix

• Insulin & dextrose

• Dialysis

• Calcium chloride to protect against the cardiac effects of hyperkalaemia

• Oral/rectal ion exchange resin

7) Loading dose, maintenance dose, frequency & method of administration

• 1 gm/10 ml or 10 mmol/10ml

• Must be diluted & given slowly

• Rate should not exceed 20 mmol/hr

8) Drug’s metabolism—Drug’s excretion—Half life (pharmacokinetics)

• Potassium depletion is greater in valvular surgery than CABG

• Potassium falls during CPB due to increased insulin & renal loss

• Potassium concentration tends to drop with hypothermia & rise upon rewarming

	Hyperkalaemia	Hypokalaemia
ECG	Tall peaked T waves Prolonged P-R Widened QRS S-T depression Dysrhythmias	Flattened T-wave U wave S-T depression VEBs
clinical signs	Muscle irritability/weakness Flaccid paralysis	Muscle irritability/weakness