The effect of acute hypothermia and serum potassium concentration on potassium cardiotoxicity in anesthetized rats. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1992 Nov;36(8):825-30
Date
11/01/1992Pubmed ID
1466222DOI
10.1111/j.1399-6576.1992.tb03572.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0026470824 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 25 CitationsAbstract
We examined the effects of hypothermia on serum K+ concentration and the interaction of body temperature and K+ load on cardiac toxicity in anesthetized rats. Serum K+ concentration significantly decreased to 2.61 +/- 0.13, 2.59 +/- 0.19 and 2.39 +/- 0.14 mmol/l at 31.0 degrees C, 28.0 degrees C and 25.0 degrees C, respectively, from the control value of 2.80 +/- 0.15 mmol/l at 37.0 degrees C. We used a 300% increase in baseline QRS duration as evidence of cardiac toxicity. Serum K+ concentrations of 4.95 +/- 0.12, 4.71 +/- 0.10, 4.45 +/- 0.14 and 4.07 +/- 0.14 mmol/l resulted in cardiac toxicity at 37.0 degrees C, 31.0 degrees C, 28.0 degrees C, and 25.0 degrees C, respectively. These data indicate that the level at which an elevation of serum K+ concentration causes cardiac toxicity diminishes with progressive hypothermia. We conclude that hypothermia induces hypokalemia, possibly through redistribution, and that the myocardium appears to be more sensitive to the toxic effects of K+ as hypothermia deepens.
Author List
Sprung J, Cheng EY, Gamulin S, Kampine JP, Bosnjak ZJAuthor
Zeljko Bosnjak PhD, MS Emeritus Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AcidosisAcute Disease
Alkalosis
Anesthesia
Animals
Body Temperature
Carbon Dioxide
Electrocardiography
Heart
Heart Rate
Hyperkalemia
Hypothermia
Potassium
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Time Factors
