A hyperkalemia arrhythmia is a serious medical condition in which increased levels of blood potassium cause abnormal heart activity. Symptoms can be seen on an ECG and this condition is fatal if left untreated. The Mayo Clinic explains that under normal conditions the mineral potassium is present inside cells with normal blood levels at 3.6 to 4.8 mEq/L. It is increased in conditions in which cells are destroyed in large amounts. This occurs in hemolysis or destruction of blood cells, burn and cancer treatments, kidney diseases, hormonal disorders and metabolic acidosis. Hyperkalemia arrhythmias can also be caused by certain medications that decrease potassium excretion from the body. Treatment consists of protecting the heart from high potassium levels and increased potassium excretion from the body.
Calcium Gluconate
The Merck Manual underlines that potassium levels higher than 6.5 mEq/L with ECG changes should be treated immediately with an infusion of calcium gluconate, which protects the heart muscles from the effects of high potassium and converts the arrhythmia--or abnormal heart beat--to normal impulse generation in the heart. This treatment for hyperkalemia arrhythmias acts rapidly but for very short period, so the dose is repeated and must be accompanied by other medications.
Insulin
Insulin helps in shifting potassium into the cells, decreasing the blood levels. It is given along with the glucose to prevent hypoglycemia in patients with normal blood glucose levels. It is started intravenously and its maximum effect occurs in one hour, says the Texas Heart Institute. Albuterol inhalation is also recommended to reduce blood potassium levels by shifting it inside the cells.
Sodium Bicarbonate
In the patients with severe metabolic acidosis or hyperkalemia due to certain medications, sodium bicarbonate infusion is given to encourage the shift of potassium into the cells by increasing the blood pH. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that it has a slow effect on treating hyperkalemia arrythmias.
Hemodialysis
Hemodialysis is a procedure in which a patient's blood gets filtered through a dialysis machine to remove waste products, toxins and abnormally high levels of potassium and other electrolytes from the body. It is usually done in patients with kidney failure whose bodies cannot complete this cleaning process on their own and it is an effective way to treat a stabilized hyperkalemic patient because it takes more time than other treatments for hyperkalemia arrythmias, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Ion Exchange Resins
Ion exchange resins treat hyperkalemia arrhythmias by removing excess potassium from the body through the digestive tract. This works by exchanging it with another mineral, sodium, that is present in a resin called sodium polystyrene sulfonate. This treatment takes a longer time to act and is given orally or rectally.
