Disorders of potassium balance

A 74-year-old man is on day 2 after an emergency Hartmann procedure for perforated diverticulitis. He takes spironolactone and perindopril for heart failure. He…

Pre-internship · common

A 3-year-old boy is seen in general practice with a two-day blanching viral rash and is otherwise well. He is eating, playing and having his usual number of wet…

Pre-internship · niche

An 8-year-old girl with chronic kidney disease is brought in vomiting after missing two dialysis sessions. She is alert and her blood pressure is 128/78 mmHg. S…

Pre-internship · common

A 62-year-old woman attends the emergency department after tripping on a step. She has a grazed knee, is otherwise well, takes only atorvastatin and passes urin…

Pre-internship · middle twist

A 76-year-old man taking ramipril and spironolactone attends with three days of vomiting and increasing lethargy. He is drowsy but rousable. Pulse is 42/min and…

Pre-internship · common

A 68-year-old man with chronic kidney disease is admitted with pneumonia and has received intravenous fluids, calcium gluconate and insulin with glucose for a s…

Clinical rotations · middle twist

A 47-year-old man with chronic kidney disease presents with palpitations and proximal muscle weakness. Serum potassium is 6.8 mmol/L, the sample is non-haemolys…

Clinical rotations · middle twist

A 70-year-old man with diabetic kidney disease takes ramipril and spironolactone. Routine testing shows potassium 6.4 mmol/L, confirmed on a non-haemolysed samp…

Clinical rotations · middle twist

A 58-year-old man with chronic kidney disease presents with weakness. Serum potassium is 7.1 mmol/L, and the laboratory result has been confirmed on a repeat no…

Pre-internship · common