K, Mg, Ca and arrhythmias

[brittkay70]

Hi all -

I am a new grad RN working on a cardiac stepdown unit...Could some one help me differentiate between arrhythmias caused by low K vs. low mg vs low Ca and what about if any of these electrolytes are high?

thanks

[tridil2000, MSN, RN]

Hi all -

I am a new grad RN working on a cardiac stepdown unit...Could some one help me differentiate between arrhythmias caused by low K vs. low mg vs low Ca and what about if any of these electrolytes are high?

thanks

i would really be shocked if you didn't learn about hyperkalemia in school. it is deadly. it causes peaked t waves and if it gets very bad, the qrs complex gets very wide- called the sine wave. (why? bc you're 'signing off! lg fans get that! lol) the reason it is dangerous goes back to cellular bio. remember the k rushes in and out of the cell during influx. to protect the heart muscle when the k is very high you'll use calcium to prevent that shift.

mag has been found to be just as important as k. mag can 'relax' cadiac cells and decrease their irritability. you may give a mag run on a pt whose mag level is normal bc it has been so useful in helping reduce venticular ectopy.

oh, an fyi-

WHEN REPLACING LOW K INFUSE THE K ON A PUMP NO MORE THAN 10meq an HOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!