Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature

Potassium is a major intracellular cation affecting tonicity and regulating intracellular processes such as protein/glycogen synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism and partially responsible for maintaining the potential difference across the membrane, particularly in excitable tissues such as nerve a...

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Main Authors: Gunadhar Padhi, Masood Ahmed Chandsha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-01-01
Series:Apollo Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.apollomedicine.org/article.asp?issn=0976-0016;year=2020;volume=17;issue=2;spage=108;epage=110;aulast=Padhi
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author Gunadhar Padhi
Masood Ahmed Chandsha
author_facet Gunadhar Padhi
Masood Ahmed Chandsha
author_sort Gunadhar Padhi
collection DOAJ
description Potassium is a major intracellular cation affecting tonicity and regulating intracellular processes such as protein/glycogen synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism and partially responsible for maintaining the potential difference across the membrane, particularly in excitable tissues such as nerve and muscle. Of all the electrolytes, a rapid change in potassium concentration is life-threatening. Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte disturbance, especially in hospitalized patients. Severe hypokalemia is life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention. It may trigger dangerous arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia, leading to cardiac arrest. It leads to neuromuscular weakness prolonging weaning in mechanically ventilated patients and also contributes to paralytic ileus. The body maintains serum potassium concentration within very narrow limits through tightly regulated feedback and feedforward systems. Understanding the physiology of potassium homeostasis and diverse etiologies of hypokalemia spanning from error in sample collection, endocrine abnormalities, renal tubular acidosis, and many more may guide toward the appropriate treatment of hypokalemia.
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spelling doaj-art-b7ea34d39e1a4327bb345bbe4535bd6f2025-01-02T12:54:23ZengSAGE PublishingApollo Medicine0976-00162213-36822020-01-0117210811010.4103/am.am_14_20Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literatureGunadhar PadhiMasood Ahmed ChandshaPotassium is a major intracellular cation affecting tonicity and regulating intracellular processes such as protein/glycogen synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism and partially responsible for maintaining the potential difference across the membrane, particularly in excitable tissues such as nerve and muscle. Of all the electrolytes, a rapid change in potassium concentration is life-threatening. Hypokalemia is a common electrolyte disturbance, especially in hospitalized patients. Severe hypokalemia is life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention. It may trigger dangerous arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia, leading to cardiac arrest. It leads to neuromuscular weakness prolonging weaning in mechanically ventilated patients and also contributes to paralytic ileus. The body maintains serum potassium concentration within very narrow limits through tightly regulated feedback and feedforward systems. Understanding the physiology of potassium homeostasis and diverse etiologies of hypokalemia spanning from error in sample collection, endocrine abnormalities, renal tubular acidosis, and many more may guide toward the appropriate treatment of hypokalemia.http://www.apollomedicine.org/article.asp?issn=0976-0016;year=2020;volume=17;issue=2;spage=108;epage=110;aulast=Padhielectrolyteshypokalemiapotassium
spellingShingle Gunadhar Padhi
Masood Ahmed Chandsha
Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature
Apollo Medicine
electrolytes
hypokalemia
potassium
title Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature
title_full Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature
title_fullStr Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature
title_full_unstemmed Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature
title_short Refractory hypokalemia – An exigent concern: Case series and review of literature
title_sort refractory hypokalemia an exigent concern case series and review of literature
topic electrolytes
hypokalemia
potassium
url http://www.apollomedicine.org/article.asp?issn=0976-0016;year=2020;volume=17;issue=2;spage=108;epage=110;aulast=Padhi
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AT masoodahmedchandsha refractoryhypokalemiaanexigentconcerncaseseriesandreviewofliterature