What is hypokalemia?​

• A low level of potassium (K+) in the blood​

What to know about it:​

• Similar to Hyperkalemia, Hypokalemia causes cardiac myocyte dysfunction and therefore can lead to cardiac arrest, as the pumping function fails​
• Unfortunately, suspecting hypokalemia as a cause of arrest is essentially IMPOSSIBLE in the pre-hospital setting. 

When Should You Leave Early?​

• Suspecting hypokalemia as a cause of arrest is essentially  IMPOSSIBLE in the pre-hospital setting. ​
• You need to have laboratory evidence, which is incredibly unlikely ​
• If there's no clear reversible cause that can be treated in hospital, remain on scene and treat per the Medical Cardiac Arrest Medical Directive. 

In Summary

• Hypokalemia may be caused by various conditions or medications where K+ is excreted out of the body or shifted out of the bloodstream​
• In severe cases, hypokalemia can lead to lethal arrythmias​
• Hypokalemia is virtually impossible to suspect in the prehospital setting, so you can remove this H from the Hs and Ts you would consider transporting early to hospital for​
• In cases where there is no clear reversible cause that cannot be treated pre-hospitally, remain on scene and treat per the Cardiac Medical Arrest Medical Directive

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