Potassium Flashcards
What is Potassium excreted by ?
The Kidneys
If the kidney’s are not working what will happen to the potassium ?
It will go up
What are causes of Hyperkalemia ?
- Kidney trouble
- Spirnolactone (K+ sparing diuretic)
What are signs and symptoms of Hyperkalemia ?
- Begins with muscle twitching
- Then proceeds to muscle weakness
- Then flaccid paralysis
Also
- Life threatening Arrhythmias
What are ECG changes we would see with Hyperkalemia ?
- Bradycardia
- Tall and peaked T waves
- Prolonged PR intervals
- Flat or absent P waves
- Widened QRS
- Conduction blocks
- Ventricular fibrillation
What are Treatments for Hyperkalemia ?
- Dialysis (b/c the kidneys aren’t working
- Calcium gluconate (decreased arrhythmias)
- Glucose and insulin ?
- Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
- increased Na+ and decreases K+
- Could cause dehydration, push fluids
Sodium has an inverse relationship with what ?
Potassium
What are causes of Hypokalemia ?
- Vomiting
- NG suction (we have lots of potassium in our stomach)
- Diuretics
- Not eating
What are signs and symptoms of Hypokalemia ?
- Muscle cramps
- Muscle weakness
- Life-Threatening Arrhythmias
What ECG changes are seen with Hypokalemia ?
- U waves
- PVC’s
- Ventricular tachycardia
What are the treatments for Hypokalemia ?
- Give Potassium
- Spironolactone (Makes the client retain potassium)
- Eat more potassium
What are foods High in potassium ?
- Spinach - Fennel - Banana
- Kale - Mustard greens - Tuna
- Brussel sprouts - Broccoli - Halibut
- Eggplant - Cantaloupe - Cauliflower
- Tomatoes - Parsley - Kiwi
- Cucumber - Bell pepper - Oranges
- Apricots - Ginger root - Lima beans
- Strawberries - Avocado - Potatoes (white or sweet)
- Cabbage
What is a Major problem with Oral potassium ?
GI upset
What do you want to assess for before and during IV Potassium ?
Urinary output (want good UO)
How should IV potassium always be given ?
On a Pump ! ( and Not by gravity)
