Question

A 69-year-old man’s blood tests on the medical admissions unit show potassium 7.1 mmol/L. ECG shows tall peaked T waves and widening of the QRS complexes. He is asymptomatic. What is the single most important immediate treatment?

Accepted Answer

Intravenous Calcium Gluconate

Answer

Intravenous 0.9% sodium chloride only

Answer

Nebulised Salbutamol alone

Answer

Oral Calcium Resonium only

Answer

Stop all potassium-sparing drugs and repeat bloods in 6 hours

Practice question

A 69-year-old man’s blood tests on the medical admissions unit show potassium 7.1 mmol/L. ECG shows tall peaked T waves and widening of the QRS complexes. He is asymptomatic. What is the single most important immediate treatment?