Calcium Gluconate in Hyperkalemia Management

This chapter discusses the pivotal role of calcium gluconate in stabilizing cardiac membranes during hyperkalemia. It details how hyperkalemia alters membrane potentials, leading to clinical signs such as widened QRS complexes, while explaining the mechanisms by which calcium restores sodium channel activity. The interplay between calcium’s dual effects on cardiac excitability and stability is emphasized, alongside insights from clinical experiences and historical studies.