Why the study?
Does hypokalemia increase the risk of serious cardiac dysrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction?
Does hypokalemia increase the risk of serious cardiac dysrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction?
Hypokalemia upon admission for acute myocardial infarction is associated with a significantly higher frequency of serious ventricular dysrhythmias and asystole in the first 24 hours, regardless of prior diuretic use.
Hypokalemia may warrant monitoring on acute MI admission; leaves open whether repletion reduces dysrhythmias.
A series of 676 patients with acute myocardial infarction were evaluated with regard to initial serum potassium level, prior diuretic therapy and occurrence of cardiac dysrhythmias during their first 24 hours in a coronary care unit. Serious dysrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and asystole) were significantly more frequent in hypokalemic patients. In this regard no differences were observed between patients on or off prior diuretic therapy
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Dyckner et al. (1984) studied this question.
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