Hyperkalemia physical examination
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
In patients with hyperkalemia, physical examination may vary from normal to bradycardia (heart block), tachypnea due to respiratory muscle weakness and absent tendon reflexes.
Physical Examination
Evaluation of vital signs plays a key role in determining hemodynamic stability and identifying the presence of cardiac arrhythmias due to the hyperkalemia.
Vitals
- Bradycardia (heart block)
- Tachypnea (respiratory muscle weakness)
Lungs
- Decrease chest expansion (respiratory muscle weakness)
- Normal breathe sounds
- Normal tactile fremitus
Cardiac
- Normal S1 S2
- Extra sysstole may be noted
Abdomen
- No abdominal tenderness or distention
- Normal bowel sounds
Neurologic
- Muscle weakness
- Flaccid paralysis
- Depressed or absent deep tendon reflexes
- Muscle tenderness associated with muscle weakness (rhabdomyolysis)