PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Electrolyte abnormalities can cause cardiac arrhythmias or cardiopulmonary arrest. Life- threatening arrhythmias are associated commonly with potassium disorders, particularly hyper- kalaemia, and less commonly with disorders of serum calcium and magnesium. In some cases therapy for life-threatening electrolyte disorders should start before the laboratory results become available. The electrolyte values for definitions have been chosen as a guide to clinical decision-making. The precise values that trigger treatment deci- sions will depend on the patient’s clinical con- dition and the rate of change of the electrolyte values. There is little or no evidence base for the treat- ment of electrolyte abnormalities during cardiac arrest. Guidance during cardiac arrest is based on the strategies used in the non-arrest patient. There are no major changes in the treatment of these disorders since the International Guidelines 2000.