scholarly journals Safety of a Nurse-Driven Standardized Potassium Replacement Protocol in Critically Ill Patients With Renal Insufficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. e10-e16
Author(s):  
Rebecca Conley ◽  
Rebecca L. Rich ◽  
Jennifer Montero
Keyword(s):  
Renal Insufficiency ◽  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Serum Potassium ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Potassium Concentration ◽  
Serum Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Potassium Replacement ◽  
Electrolyte Replacement

Background In critically ill patients, maintaining appropriate serum potassium concentrations requires careful supplementation to correct hypokalemia but avoid hyperkalemia. At the study institution, an institution-based, nurse-driven standardized electrolyte replacement protocol is used in critically ill patients with a serum creatinine concentration of 2 mg/dL or less. If the serum creatinine concentration is greater than 2 mg/dL, electrolyte replacement requires a physician order. Objective To determine if standardized potassium supplementation is safe in critically ill patients with renal insufficiency not requiring renal replacement therapy. Methods This study was an institutional review board–approved, single-center, retrospective evaluation of critically ill patients receiving intravenous potassium replacement per protocol. Patients were grouped according to serum creatinine concentration (≤ 2 mg/dL or > 2 mg/dL) at the time of replacement. The primary outcome was the incidence of hyperkalemia (potassium concentration ≥ 5 mEq/L) following potassium replacement. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of hyperkalemia, change in serum potassium concentration, and need for hyperkalemia treatment. Outcomes were analyzed using χ2 and t tests. Results Of 814 patients screened, 145 were included (99 with serum creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL and 46 with serum creatinine > 2 mg/dL). The incidence of hyperkalemia was not different between groups (P = .57). Five patients experienced hyperkalemia; none received hyperkalemia treatment. Change in serum potassium was similar for patients in the 2 groups (P = .33). Conclusions A standardized, nurse-driven electrolyte replacement protocol can be used safely in critically ill patients with renal insufficiency not requiring renal replacement therapy.

scholarly journals Augmented Renal Clearance Following Traumatic Injury in Critically Ill Patients Requiring Nutrition Therapy

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1681
Author(s):  
Roland N. Dickerson ◽  
Christin N. Crawford ◽  
Melissa K. Tsiu ◽  
Cara E. Bujanowski ◽  
Edward T. Van Matre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Renal Clearance ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Nutrition Therapy ◽  
Serum Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Urine Collection ◽  
Augmented Renal Clearance ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Traumatic Injuries

The intent of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of augmented renal clearance (ARC) in patients with traumatic injuries who require nutrition therapy and identify factors associated with ARC. Adult patients admitted to the trauma intensive care unit from January 2015 to September 2016 who received enteral or parenteral nutrition therapy and had a 24 h urine collection within 4 to 14 days after injury were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with a serum creatinine concentration > 1.5 mg/dL, required dialysis, or had an incomplete urine collection were excluded. ARC was defined as a measured creatinine clearance > 149 mL/min/1.73 m2. Two hundred and three patients were evaluated. One hundred and two (50%) exhibited ARC. A greater proportion of patients with ARC were male (86% vs. 67%; p = 0.004), had traumatic brain injury (33% vs. 9%; p = 0.001), a higher injury severity score (30 ± 11 vs. 26 ± 12; p = 0.015), were younger (36 ± 15 vs. 54 ± 17 years; p = 0.001), had a lower serum creatinine concentration (0.7 ± 2 vs. 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/dL; p = 0.001) and were more catabolic (nitrogen balance of −10.8 ± 13.0 vs. −6.2 ± 9.2 g/d; p = 0.004). The multivariate analysis revealed African American race and protein intake were also associated with ARC. Half of critically ill patients with traumatic injuries experience ARC. Patients with multiple risk factors for ARC should be closely evaluated for dosing of renally-eliminated electrolytes, nutrients, and medications.

Iohexol clearance in unstable critically ill patients: a tool to assess glomerular filtration rate

2016 ◽  
Vol 54 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Salmon-Gandonnière ◽  
Isabelle Benz-de Bretagne ◽  
Emmanuelle Mercier ◽  
Aurélie Joret ◽  
Jean-Michel Halimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glomerular Filtration Rate ◽  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Fluid Balance ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Filtration Rate ◽  
Circulatory Failure ◽  
Serum Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Acute Circulatory Failure ◽  
Creatinine Concentration

AbstractBackground:Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in unstable critically ill patients. In this context, serum creatinine concentration is an imperfect tool for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR), an index of renal function. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of measuring iohexol clearance for GFR assessment in critically ill patients with acute circulatory failure at intensive care unit (ICU) admission.Methods:ICU patients were prospectively included within 12 h of acute circulatory failure; a non-toxic dose of iohexol (5 mL) was infused intravenously and iohexol plasma concentration decrease was measured over 24 h. Urinary iohexol concentration was measured in urine samples collected four times, every 6 h for 24 h. The Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome score, measuring AKI, was calculated each day.Results:Among 18 patients with acute circulatory failure, AKI developed in 15; 14 showed decreased serum creatinine concentration during the first 24 h even though 10 presented AKI. The absolute variation in serum creatinine concentration was correlated with fluid balance over 24 h. Median [min; max] plasma clearance of iohexol was 39.4 mL/min [6.1; 154.0] and iohexol urinary clearance 32.8 mL/min [0.8–170.4]. The correlation between plasma and urinary clearance was ρ=0.97, p<0.0001.Conclusions:GFR may be estimated by plasma iohexol clearance in unstable critically ill patients. This method is reliable, correlates very well with urinary iohexol clearance and does not depend on input/output fluid balance and fluid infusion, as compared with serum creatinine concentration.

Effect of Standard-Dose Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole on the Serum Potassium Concentration in Elderly Men

1996 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
James M Witt ◽  
Ji M Koo ◽  
Byron D Danielson
Keyword(s):  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Serum Potassium ◽  
Potassium Concentration ◽  
Standard Dose ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Serum Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Serum Potassium Concentration

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of standard-dose trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (TMP 160 mg and SMX 800 mg q12h) on the serum potassium concentration. DESIGN: Retrospective and concurrent study. SETTING: A Veterans Affairs Medical Center. PATIENTS: Fifty-three men hospitalized at the Fargo Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Thirty-three patients who received standard-dose TMP/SMX for 3 or more days comprised the study group. Twenty patients who received oral cephradine or amoxicillin for 3 or more days comprised the control group. Patients who received potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, beta-blockers, heparin, known nephrotoxic agents, patients with a serum creatinine concentration of more than 177 μmol/L, and patients with baseline hyperkalemia (serum potassium concentration>5.1 mmol/L) were excluded. RESULTS: The serum potassium concentration in the study group was 4.22 ± 0.40 mmol/L and increased by 0.31 ± 0.38 mmol/L at the end of therapy (p < 0.001). Twenty-six patients in the study group (78.8%) had an increase in the serum potassium concentration during TMP/SMX therapy. Fourteen of these patients had follow-up serum potassium concentrations obtained after completion of therapy. The serum potassium concentration returned to baseline in 10 of these patients. The serum creatinine concentration also increased during therapy. However, the correlation between the increase in the serum potassium concentration and the increase in the serum creatinine concentration was weak (Pearson r = 0.29). The serum potassium in the control group was 4.34 mmol/L and remained essentially unchanged during therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with standard-dose TMP/SMX is associated with a slight increase in the serum potassium concentration. Routine monitoring of the serum potassium concentration in patients who are treated with standard-dose TMP/SMX therapy is unnecessary. However, TMP/SMX should be considered as a possible cause of unexplained hyperkalemia in elderly patients receiving TMP/SMX therapy.

scholarly journals Effectiveness and Safety of Potassium Replacement in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. e13-e18
Author(s):  
Drayton A. Hammond ◽  
Jarrod King ◽  
Niranjan Kathe ◽  
Kristina Erbach ◽  
Jelena Stojakovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Serum Potassium ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Target Range ◽  
Target Attainment ◽  
Serum Potassium Concentration ◽  
Rule Of Thumb ◽  
Potassium Replacement

Background Rules of thumb for potassium replacement are used in intensive care units despite minimal empirical validation. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of rule-of-thumb potassium replacement in critically ill patients with mild and moderate hypokalemia. Methods A retrospective, observational study was done of patients with mild (potassium, 3-3.9 mEq/L) and moderate (potassium, 2-2.9 mEq/L) hypokalemia admitted to a medical intensive care unit who received potassium replacement. Expected and actual frequencies of replacement that achieved target potassium concentrations (≥ 4 mEq/L) were compared by using a χ2 test. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether rule-of-thumb administration affected the probability of target attainment within 24 hours of replacement. Results Serum potassium concentrations were checked within 24 hours after potassium replacement on 354 of 577 days (61.4%) when replacement was provided. Concentrations were within target range in 82 instances (23.2%). Of 62 episodes of replacement expected to achieve the target according to the rule-of-thumb estimation, 22 did (35%). Rule-of-thumb administration was associated with greater likelihood of target attainment (odds ratio, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.18-3.85; P = .01). This difference in likelihood remained significant after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.04-4.56; P = .04). Conclusion In critically ill patients given potassium replacement without regard to a formal protocol, the target serum potassium concentration was achieved more often than expected according to the rule-of-thumb estimation but less than one-third of the time.

Two-year Longitudinal Evaluation of Amphotericin B Lipid Complex Injection in a Tertiary Care Medical Center

2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne D. Kennedy ◽  
Julie F. Connelly ◽  
Kevin M. Kuzma
Keyword(s):  
Serum Creatinine ◽  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Serum Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Creatinine Concentration ◽  
Lipid Complex ◽  
Tertiary Care Medical Center ◽  
Amphotericin B Lipid Complex ◽  
The Mean

A 2-year concurrent drug use evaluation was conducted in 156 patients to determine whether Abelcet (amphotericin B lipid complex injection) was being prescribed according to institution-approved guidelines and to characterize the patient population receiving Abelcet. Eighty-nine patients (57%) had fungal infections documented by chest x-ray, computed tomography, or fungal cultures. Sixty-seven (43%) had clinically suspected fungal infections. The Abelcet mean dose by weight was 5 mg/kg/day (actual body weight). Seventy-one patients (46%) met the established guidelines for use; 85 (54%) did not. Premedication was given to 64% of the patients; only 15 patients (10%) experienced documented fever and chills. A total of 72 patients (46%) died during therapy. Of the 75 patients who completed therapy in the hospital, 41 were switched to conventional amphotericin B, fluconazole, or itraconazole following a decrease in serum creatinine concentration, and 34 did not receive further antifungal therapy. The mean length of Abelcet therapy was 11 days. The mean increase in serum creatinine concentration at discontinuation of therapy was 0.2 mg/dL. Continued monitoring of Abelcet use was recommended and established guidelines were reaffirmed. Hydration with normal saline before and after dosing was suggested to help improve renal function, and dopamine was recommended to increase renal blood flow.

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