Hyperkalemia

10/03/2025 23 min

Listen "Hyperkalemia"

Episode Synopsis

In this episode, we dive into the topic of hyperkalemia, a condition characterized by elevated potassium levels in the blood. We explore how hyperkalemia affects the action potential in the heart, potentially leading to dangerous arrhythmias. The discussion also covers the methods of managing and treating this condition. We also do a face-off between sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate. We compare their mechanisms of action—sodium bicarbonate helping to shift potassium into cells and calcium gluconate stabilizing the cardiac membrane—along with their specific uses in clinical settings for effectively lowering potassium levels and mitigating the risk of arrhythmias.

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