Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Q: Why intravenous potassium replacement should be given in non-dextrose solution?


Answer:  Non-dextrose solution like saline should be used for potassium replacement therapy because dextrose tends to stimulate insulin release, and insulin is known to drive extracellular potassium into the cells, exacerbating hypokalemia. 





 Reference: 

KUNIN AS, SURAWICZ B, SIMS EA. Decrease in serum potassium concentrations and appearance of cardiac arrhythmias during infusion of potassium with glucose in potassium-depleted patients. N Engl J Med 1962; 266:228.

No comments:

Post a Comment