Which medication is used to stabilize cardiac membranes in severe hyperkalemia?

Which medication is used to stabilize cardiac membranes in severe hyperkalemia?

• A. Calcium gluconate
• B. Potassium chloride
• C. Furosemide
• D. Sodium bicarbonate

Answer: (A)

In severe hyperkalemia, the most urgent need is to prevent life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias by stabilizing the heart muscle membranes. High extracellular potassium makes cardiac cells more excitable and can lead to dangerous conduction problems. Calcium gluconate, given IV, stabilizes the myocardial cell membranes by increasing the threshold potential, which reduces excitability and protects the heart from the immediate effects of the elevated potassium. It does not lower potassium levels itself; it buys time for treatments that move potassium into cells or remove it from the body to work. The other options don’t provide this immediate membrane stabilization: potassium chloride would worsen hyperkalemia, furosemide mainly promotes potassium loss more slowly, and sodium bicarbonate shifts potassium but doesn’t directly stabilize membranes.

In severe hyperkalemia, the most urgent need is to prevent life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias by stabilizing the heart muscle membranes. High extracellular potassium makes cardiac cells more excitable and can lead to dangerous conduction problems. Calcium gluconate, given IV, stabilizes the myocardial cell membranes by increasing the threshold potential, which reduces excitability and protects the heart from the immediate effects of the elevated potassium. It does not lower potassium levels itself; it buys time for treatments that move potassium into cells or remove it from the body to work. The other options don’t provide this immediate membrane stabilization: potassium chloride would worsen hyperkalemia, furosemide mainly promotes potassium loss more slowly, and sodium bicarbonate shifts potassium but doesn’t directly stabilize membranes.