Hello and welcome to the Zero Definals podcast. My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going

to be talking to you about Hypercalemia. And you can follow along with written notes on this topic

at zero definals.com slash hypercalemia or in the renal section of the Zero De definals medicine book. So let's get straight into it.

Hyperclemia is a high serum potassium level and it's important to remember the investigations and

management of hyperclemia as it's a common exam question and also a common reallife scenario that you'll have to deal with as a junior doctor.

The main complication is cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation or VF

and these cardiac arrhythmias can lead to cardiac arrest and be fatal.

So what are the causes of hypercilemia? There's certain

conditions that can cause hypercilemia and these include acute kidney injury, chronic kidney

disease, rhabdomyosis, adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease, and tumolysis syndrome. There's also many medications that can

cause hyperclemia and these include aldosterone antagonists such as spironolactone and aplurinone,

ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-2 receptor blockers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and

naproxin and potassium supplements. Let's talk about the Usenese or renal profile blood test.

Hyperclemia is diagnosed on a formal urea and electrolytes or U&E blood test.

Pay attention to creatinine, urea and the EGFR

because acute and chronic renal failure is important

as they will need discussion with the renal team

and consideration for haemodialysis.

Hemolysis, which is the breakdown of red blood cells

during a sample can lead to a falsely elevated potassium level.

So if it's been quite a traumatic vener puncture, sometimes this can damage the red blood cells, and as they get damaged they release potassium.

So the sample has a high potassium level, whereas their actual blood or their serum potassium is normal.

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