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Hyperkalaemia

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prognosis
Investigations

Beware of attributing extreme values to haemolysis alone: obtain ECG while awaiting repeat d  
Look for b
  • peaked T waves, 
  • small P waves 
  • or worse yet: absent P waves, wide QRS, blurring of ST into T 
  • or worse yet, sine wave pattern 

Note:

ECG diagnosis of hyperkalaemia is poor

    Patient Target Disorder and
    Reference Standard    		 Diagnostic Test LR+
    (95% CI)     		Post-test Probability LR-
    (95% CI)     		Post-test Probability
    suspected hyperkalaemia or renal insufficiency b (pre-test probability: 37%) hyperkalaemia
    (serum potassium > 5.0 mmol/l)     		ECG 2.8
    (1.8 to 4.5)     		65% 0.68
    (0.56 to 0.82)     		31%

Expiry date: September 2005
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   W   Lee , CM   Ball
Reviewer   C   Clase
CAT Writers   W   Lee , CM   Ball