A 52-year- old man with hypertension and nephrolithiasis is admitted to a rehabilitation unit for persistent lower extremity weakness from a thoracic spinal cord injury related to a fall. His blood pressure is 160/80 mm Hg, and his heart rate is 94 beats/min. Findings on electrocardiography are unremarkable.
Laboratory Results: Potassium Hospital day 1, 4.2 mmol/L Hospital day 33, 5.8 mmol/L Creatinine, 0.9 mg/dL Sodium, 140 mEq/L Arterial blood gas on room air Po2, 65 mm Hg Pco2, 40 mm Hg Bicarbonate, 24 mEq/L (to convert to mmol/L, multiply by 1) pH, 7.4 Current Medications: Amlodipine, 5 mg/d Ibuprofen, 200 mg as needed (last dose 3 days previously) Heparin, 5000 U subcutaneously twice daily What would be the next approach in managing this patient’s potassium level? *This case is from the Docplexus Editorial Team and is for educative purpose only.
