Hyperkalemia associated with potassium chloride administration in a cat

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 206; no. 10; p. 1565
• Main Authors: Dhein, C R, Wardrop, K J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.05.1995
• Subjects: Animals; application methods; Cat Diseases - chemically induced; Cat Diseases - therapy; Cats; chat; chlorure de potassium; cloruro potasico; efectos secundarios; effet secondaire; Fluid Therapy - standards; Fluid Therapy - veterinary; fluide; fluidos; fluids; formulaciones; formulation; formulations; gato; Hyperkalemia - chemically induced; Hyperkalemia - veterinary; Male; melange; metabolic disorders; methode d' application; metodos de aplicacion; mezclado; mixing; potasio; potassium; potassium chloride; Potassium Chloride - administration & dosage; Potassium Chloride - adverse effects; side effects; trastornos metabolicos; trouble du metabolisme
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1995.206.10.1565

Addition of appropriate amounts of potassium chloride solution to fluid administered i.v. resulted in hyperkalemia in a cat. To evaluate whether incomplete mixing of potassium chloride in the fluid might have resulted in the observed hyperkalemia, 40 mEq (20 ml) of potassium chloride solution was injected into each of three 1-L vinyl bags of 5% dextrose in water, with or without attempting to mix the additive with the fluid in the bag. Measurement of potassium concentrations in the bags revealed that injecting potassium chloride solution into a bag of fluid while that fluid is being administered can result in incomplete mixing and discharge of concentrated potassium chloride from the administration set. The greatest potassium concentration measured in fluid sampled from the administration set was 194 mEq/L.