FEATURED Medical education topic: Electrolyte emergencies

Abnormal electrolyte values in laboratory testing are common, but true emergencies are relatively uncommon. Electrolyte emergency manifestations range from vague and nonspecific to life-threatening. Language barriers may complicate obtaining a clear picture of the patient’s symptoms. This lecture will help the learner determine how to consider these emergencies and the approach to their treatment. It will focus on the true emergencies–how they present and how to diagnose and treat them. Treatment for hyperkalemia includes binding agents; some previously used are no longer recommended, and others used more commonly now may have little role in emergency care. It’s important for physicians to be updated on changes in the treatment of electrolyte emergencies.

Proposed Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:

• Describe the presentation of patients with hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, and hypercalcemia
• Discuss the emergency treatment options for patients with hyperkalemia, hypokalemia, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, and hypercalcemia
• Explain the reasoning behind using the patient’s clinical presentation as the driver for treatment rather than the patient’s laboratory finding
• Identify barriers to diagnosis of electrolyte emergencies, including language and implicit bias, and the strategies for overcoming these barriers

If your medical staff needs an update on electrolyte emergencies, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

Download the PDF on this topic: http://speakersnetwork.com/forms/ElectrolyteEmergencies.pdf

References:

https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0915/p487.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28806046

https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/240681-overview?form=fpf