Profound hypokalemia: unusual presentation and management in a 12-year-old boy

E Garcia, N Nakhleh, D Simmons… - Pediatric emergency …, 2008 - journals.lww.com
E Garcia, N Nakhleh, D Simmons, C Ramsay
Pediatric emergency care, 2008journals.lww.com
Hypokalemia is a frequent electrolyte abnormality that rarely requires more than oral
supplementation to correct. We describe a case of profound hypokalemia and cardiac
arrhythmia requiring unusually large amounts of Bbolused [potassium to restore to normal
sinus rhythm. Our patient presented with significant dehydration and electrolyte
abnormalities after several days of emesis. Most alarming of these findings was a serum
potassium level of 1.2 mEq/L. The electrocardiogram showed changes consistent with …
Abstract
Hypokalemia is a frequent electrolyte abnormality that rarely requires more than oral supplementation to correct. We describe a case of profound hypokalemia and cardiac arrhythmia requiring unusually large amounts of Bbolused [potassium to restore to normal sinus rhythm. Our patient presented with significant dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities after several days of emesis. Most alarming of these findings was a serum potassium level of 1.2 mEq/L. The electrocardiogram showed changes consistent with hypokalemia that rapidly degraded into pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Potassium chloride of 140 mEq was hand-pushed during the resuscitation with return of spontaneous rhythm. The patient was discharge 11 days later in his prearrest state.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins