Relationship between acute hypercarbia and hyperkalaemia during surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND The relationship between hyperkalaemia and metabolic acidosis is well described in the critical care setting; however, the relationship between acute respiratory acidosis and plasma potassium concentration is less well understood. In a controlled model of increasing levels of hypercarbia, we tested the hypothesis of whether increasing levels of hypercarbia are associated with changes in plasma potassium concentrations. AIM To determine whether increasing levels of hypercarbia are associated with changes in plasma potassium concentrations. METHODS We performed a post-hoc study examining changes in serum potassium in 24 patients who received increased levels of hypercarbia during ca..