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Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 42, 1137-1139, Copyright © 1995 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

ARTICLES

Diuretic-induced hypokalaemia inducing torsades de pointes

JP Chvilicek, BJ Hurlbert and GE Hill
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-4455, USA.

Torsades de pointes (TP), an unique polymorphous type of ventricular tachycardia, is associated with either an acquired or congenitally prolonged QT interval. Several reports have demonstrated TP to follow an acquired prolonged QT interval secondary to chronic hypocalcaemia, hypomagnesaemia, or hypokalaemia. We report a rapid onset, acute extracellular hypokalaemia not associated with other electrolyte disturbances inducing a prolonged QT interval followed by TP. This is the first case report of a rapid onset isolated acute extracellular hypokalaemia inducing TP. Since anaesthetists are involved in therapies that will rapidly reduce extracellular potassium (diuretic, catecholamine, and/or insulin administration, hyperventilation), this cae report serves as a warning that such therapy may have the risk of arrhythmia induction.


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