Sodium-potassium pump and what if scenario

[blueelle]

In A&P 2, professor has given us a case study on sodium-potassium pumps. The "what if" scenario is: what happens if a patients is infused with a 5% potassium bag (yes that's correct 5%)?

What will happen to the RMP of the patient's excitable cells?

Will it be more likely that our patient's cells are able to produce action potentials? Why or why not?

What is the ultimate fate of the patient?

I understand how the general function of action potentials work, but I am clueless when the cells are being bombarded with this much potassium. Any advice, links or websites to check out?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I can tell you what happens when a patient is over infused with potassium. They go into heart block and the heart stops beating.

Now, the actual reason why this happens is probably because there are more potassium ions available than there are sodium ions. The cells become busy with exchanging the sodium in the cells for the potassium ions until they run out and the cells contain primarily potassium. At that point, the cell is exhausted of calcium and the sodium-potassium pump fails. I would assume no more activity can take place beacuse all the available Calcium ions have been expended particularly if the system is still being flooded with more potassium from an intravenous source.

http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/molecules/sodium_pump.html

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chapter2/animation__how_the_sodium_potassium_pump_works.html