The treatment of choice in acute
hyperkalemia of life threatening to
cardiac myocytes is
a) Infusion of calcium gluconate
b) Oral resins
c) Intravenous infusion of insulin
d) β blocker
Correct Answer - A
Ans. is `a’ i.e. Infusion of calcium gluconate
Emergent t/t of hyperkalemia is needed in conditions with
severe hyperkalemia (IC >7 meq/L). In these cases cardiac
toxicity or muscular paralysis is present.
Calcium gluconate is the fastest acting agent among the agents
used in the t/t of hyperkalemia°.
It acts within minutes but an important point to note is that it
does not cause transcellular movement of potassium, instead,
it acts on cardiac cell membrane