Life threatening hyperkalemia treated with prolonged continuous insulin infusion

We report a case of 4-month old infant with Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) who had cardiac arrest secondary to severe hyperkalemia of 12.3mmol/l. It was refractory to anti hyperkalemic medications that necessitated the transfer of the patient to a tertiary hospital for dialysis. The potassium level has dropped gradually to a normal level with continuous insulin infusion and dextrose for almost 12 hours that waved the need of the dialysis. This case highlights the effectiveness of prolonged continuous insulin infusion in treating life-threatening hyperkalemia especially in hospitals where there are no dialysis services available or till the dialysis is initiated.
Source: International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research