<strong>Background:</strong> Hypokalemia is seen on regular basis in medical emergency. The definition of hypokalemia is serum potassium level below 3.5 mmol/L, meanwhile severe hypokalemia is serum potass...<strong>Background:</strong> Hypokalemia is seen on regular basis in medical emergency. The definition of hypokalemia is serum potassium level below 3.5 mmol/L, meanwhile severe hypokalemia is serum potassium level below 2.5 mmol/L [1]. Patient with hypokalemia can present with wide range of presentation including musculoskeletal complaints from numbness to acute paralysis. Severe hypokalemia has tendency to progress to intestinal paralysis and respiratory failure. In some cases of hypokalemia, cardiovascular system can also be affected causing cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure [2]. <strong>Aim:</strong> This case report is to highlight that severe hypokalaemia can present with ECG changes mimicking acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which was fully resolved with correction of potassium level. <strong>Methods:</strong> We report a case of 84 years old Chinese man with underlying triple vessel disease presented with generalised body weakness for 2 days. ECG on arrival noted changes suggestive of ACS with ST segment depression in lead V4-V6 with first degree heart block, however patient had no ischemic symptoms and the potassium level was severe low at 1.6 mmol/L (3.5 - 5.1 mmol/L). He was correctly not treated for ACS. <strong>Outcomes:</strong> Repeated ECG post fast intravenous potassium correction noted complete resolution of the ST segment depression and first degree heart block. Patient discharged well from hospital four days later with potassium level of 3.8 mmol/L. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Severe hypokalemia with asymptomatic ECG of ACS changes can safely be treated as a single entity clinical emergency with good resolution and no complication after normalizing potassium level.展开更多
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a common cause of death. Some therapeutic strategies performed daily are still debated, including particularly emergency coronary angiography independently of the clinical pattern. Pr...Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a common cause of death. Some therapeutic strategies performed daily are still debated, including particularly emergency coronary angiography independently of the clinical pattern. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention seems the strategy of choice in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction but in other clinical presentations, benefit of coronary angiogram remains controversial. To improve management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and define the best timing to perform coronary angiogram, we suggest a study design based on ECG evaluation to define predictors of coronary artery disease after resuscitated cardiac arrest by distinguishing 3 groups according to ECG after resuscitation: ST segment elevation and LBBB;repolarisation disorder or no repolarisation disorder. Evaluation of ECG changes may still be useful as a triage method for establishing the indication for emergency coronary angiogram due to easy, non invasive and quick method and thus for limiting complications associated with this exam in acute phase.展开更多
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> Hypokalemia is seen on regular basis in medical emergency. The definition of hypokalemia is serum potassium level below 3.5 mmol/L, meanwhile severe hypokalemia is serum potassium level below 2.5 mmol/L [1]. Patient with hypokalemia can present with wide range of presentation including musculoskeletal complaints from numbness to acute paralysis. Severe hypokalemia has tendency to progress to intestinal paralysis and respiratory failure. In some cases of hypokalemia, cardiovascular system can also be affected causing cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure [2]. <strong>Aim:</strong> This case report is to highlight that severe hypokalaemia can present with ECG changes mimicking acute coronary syndrome (ACS) which was fully resolved with correction of potassium level. <strong>Methods:</strong> We report a case of 84 years old Chinese man with underlying triple vessel disease presented with generalised body weakness for 2 days. ECG on arrival noted changes suggestive of ACS with ST segment depression in lead V4-V6 with first degree heart block, however patient had no ischemic symptoms and the potassium level was severe low at 1.6 mmol/L (3.5 - 5.1 mmol/L). He was correctly not treated for ACS. <strong>Outcomes:</strong> Repeated ECG post fast intravenous potassium correction noted complete resolution of the ST segment depression and first degree heart block. Patient discharged well from hospital four days later with potassium level of 3.8 mmol/L. <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Severe hypokalemia with asymptomatic ECG of ACS changes can safely be treated as a single entity clinical emergency with good resolution and no complication after normalizing potassium level.
文摘Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a common cause of death. Some therapeutic strategies performed daily are still debated, including particularly emergency coronary angiography independently of the clinical pattern. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention seems the strategy of choice in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction but in other clinical presentations, benefit of coronary angiogram remains controversial. To improve management of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and define the best timing to perform coronary angiogram, we suggest a study design based on ECG evaluation to define predictors of coronary artery disease after resuscitated cardiac arrest by distinguishing 3 groups according to ECG after resuscitation: ST segment elevation and LBBB;repolarisation disorder or no repolarisation disorder. Evaluation of ECG changes may still be useful as a triage method for establishing the indication for emergency coronary angiogram due to easy, non invasive and quick method and thus for limiting complications associated with this exam in acute phase.
