Hyperkalemia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

In patients with hyperkalemia, physical examination may vary from normal to bradycardia (heart block), tachypnea due to respiratory muscle weakness and absent tendon reflexes. Evaluation of vital signs plays a key role in determining hemodynamic stability and identifying the presence of cardiac arrhythmias due to the hyperkalemia.

Physical Examination

Evaluation of vital signs plays a key role in determining hemodynamic stability and identifying the presence of cardiac arrhythmias due to the hyperkalemia.^[1]^[2]

Vitals

Bradycardia (heart block)
Tachypnea (respiratory muscle weakness)

Lungs

Decrease chest expansion (respiratory muscle weakness)
Normal breathe sounds
Normal tactile fremitus

Cardiac

Normal S1 S2
Extra sysstole may be noted

Abdomen

No abdominal tenderness or distention
Normal bowel sounds

Neurologic

Muscle weakness
Flaccid paralysis
Depressed or absent deep tendon reflexes
Muscle tenderness associated with muscle weakness (rhabdomyolysis)

References

↑ Kogika MM, de Morais HA (2017). “A Quick Reference on Hyperkalemia”. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 47 (2): 223–228. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.10.009. PMID 27939860.
↑ Boddy K, King PC, Hume R, Weyers E (1972). “The relation of total body potassium to height, weight, and age in normal adults”. J Clin Pathol. 25 (6): 512–7. PMC 477368. PMID 4625433.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[pmid27939860-1] Kogika MM, de Morais HA (2017). “A Quick Reference on Hyperkalemia”. Vet. Clin. North Am. Small Anim. Pract. 47 (2): 223–228. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.10.009. PMID 27939860.

[pmid4625433-2] Boddy K, King PC, Hume R, Weyers E (1972). “The relation of total body potassium to height, weight, and age in normal adults”. J Clin Pathol. 25 (6): 512–7. PMC 477368. PMID 4625433.

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