Vol 12, No 6 (2017)
Electrotherapy
Published online: 2017-12-29
Electrocardiographic changes in a patient with cardiac arrest in the course of uncontrolled diabetes and renal insufficiency
DOI: 10.5603/FC.2017.0116
Folia Cardiologica 2017;12(6):611-614.
Abstract
Treatment of a patient with cardiac arrest in non-shockable rhythms requires searching for potentially reversible causes. An unmeasurable blood glucose concentration in the glucometer test raises suspicion of diabetic acidosis, dehydration and hyperkalemia as a cause of cardiac arrest. In the case of available electrocardiography (ECG) performed immediately before cardiac arrest or after effective resuscitation, electrocardiographic features suggestive of hyperkalemia should be sought. The paper presents a case of the patient with 2 incidents of cardiac arrest in the course of diabetic acidosis and hyperkalemia. The electrocardiographic records of this patient are discussed.
Keywords: cardiac arrestdiabetic acidosiselectrocardiogramhyperkalemia
References
- Ross AM, Proper MC, Aronson AL. Sinoventricular conduction in atrial standstill. J Electrocardiol. 1976; 9(2): 161–164.
- Durfey N, Lehnhof B, Bergeson A, et al. Severe Hyperkalemia: Can the Electrocardiogram Risk Stratify for Short-term Adverse Events? West J Emerg Med. 2017; 18(5): 963–971.
- Parham WA, Mehdirad AA, Biermann KM, et al. Hyperkalemia revisited. Tex Heart Inst J. 2006; 33(1): 40–47.
- Thomsen RW, Nicolaisen SK, Hasvold P, et al. Elevated potassium levels in patients with chronic kidney disease: occurrence, risk factors and clinical outcomes-a Danish population-based cohort study. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2017 [Epub ahead of print].
- Huang CW, Lee MJ, Lee PT, et al. Low Potassium Dialysate as a Protective Factor of Sudden Cardiac Death in Hemodialysis Patients with Hyperkalemia. PLoS One. 2015; 10(10): e0139886.
