• Both hypokalemia and hyperkalemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias because of their effect on the membrane potential of cardiac cells.
• Hyperkalemia is a medical emergency and can cause sine waves on the electrocardiograph and cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation.
• Treatment of hyperkalemia includes, calcium administration, insulin and removal of the excess potassium by the kidney or by hemodiaysis, hemofiltration or oral cation exchange resins.
• Always consider hyperkalemia as a potential cause in a cardiac arrest in a patient with renal impairment or renal failure and administer calcium.

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Hypokalaemia
Gennari FJ, 1998
N Engl J Med 339 451 - 458

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C. A. O'Callaghan 2004