The Curious Clinicians Reboot! Hyperkalemia
Aug 20, 2025
Explore why calcium is crucial in managing hyperkalemia and how it stabilizes cardiac membranes. Discover the intriguing connection between hyperkalemia and rising trends in comfortable healthcare apparel. Delve into the vital role of calcium gluconate and its impact on cardiac function. Learn about the historical and clinical perspectives on treating hyperkalemia with hypertonic saline. The discussion highlights the complexities of treatment options and the importance of enhancing knowledge among healthcare professionals.
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Calcium Is A Staple Of Intern Practice
- Tony Brew notes interns commonly give calcium for hyperkalemia early in training as a routine intervention.
- He was surprised to find the evidence base is thinner and messier than expected.
Early Hyperkalemia Narrows Excitability Gap
- Hyperkalemia raises the resting membrane potential, moving it closer to threshold and initially increases myocyte excitability.
- This narrowing of the resting-threshold gap explains early 'irritable' cardiac behavior in hyperkalemia.
Calcium Raises Threshold To Restore Margin
- Calcium shifts the threshold potential less negative, increasing the gap between resting and threshold without necessarily changing resting potential.
- Raising threshold helps restore the membrane's safety margin against spontaneous depolarization.