Hypokalemia in a pediatric intensive care unit.

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dc.contributor.authorSinghi, Sen_US
dc.contributor.authorMarudkar, Aen_US
dc.date.accessioned1996-01-01en_US
dc.date.accessioned2009-05-27T06:17:56Z
dc.date.available1996-01-01en_US
dc.date.available2009-05-27T06:17:56Z
dc.date.issued1996-01-01en_US
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency, severity, risk factors and mortality of hypokalemia, and efficacy of therapy used for its correction. DESIGN: Descriptive, retrospective analysis. SAMPLE: 290 patient records admitted consecutively to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) over a period of one year. RESULTS: Forty three (14.8%) patients had 54 episodes of hypokalemia. Predisposing factors included the nature of primary disease (renal disease 19%, septicemia 19%, acute diarrhea 14%, heart disease with congestive failure, and meningoencephalitis 12% each), malnutrition (weight for age less than 80% in 72%) and therapy with drugs (diuretics, corticosteroids and antiasthma drugs). For correction of hpokalemia all the patients received 4-6 mEq potassium per 100 ml of intravenous fluids (slow correction). Seven patients (9 episodes), with ECG changes of hpokalemia, also received infusion of 0.3 mEq potassium/kg/hour till ECG became normal (rapid correction). Normal potassium level was achieved in all nine episodes where rapid correction was given, and in 40 of 45 episodes which received slow correction. The overall mortality among patients with hypokalemia (25.6%, 11/43) was significantly higher than that among the remaining PICU patients (10.9%, 27/247; odd's ratio 2.34; 95% confidence interval 1.3-4.2) (p < 0.05). All the patients receiving rapid correction survived. CONCLUSIONS: Hypokalemia is a common problem among PICU patients. Early detection through regular monitoring and rapid correction may help in improving the outcome.en_US
dc.description.affiliationDepartment of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.en_US
dc.identifier.citationSinghi S, Marudkar A. Hypokalemia in a pediatric intensive care unit. Indian Pediatrics. 1996 Jan; 33(1): 9-14en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/15972
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.source.urihttps://indianpediatrics.neten_US
dc.subject.meshAge Distributionen_US
dc.subject.meshChilden_US
dc.subject.meshChild, Preschoolen_US
dc.subject.meshFemaleen_US
dc.subject.meshHumansen_US
dc.subject.meshHypokalemia --epidemiologyen_US
dc.subject.meshIncidenceen_US
dc.subject.meshIndia --epidemiologyen_US
dc.subject.meshInfanten_US
dc.subject.meshIntensive Care Units, Pediatricen_US
dc.subject.meshMaleen_US
dc.subject.meshRetrospective Studiesen_US
dc.subject.meshSex Distributionen_US
dc.subject.meshSurvival Rateen_US
dc.titleHypokalemia in a pediatric intensive care unit.en_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
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