Acute hyperkalaemia in emergency care: evidence-based approaches

Acute hyperkalaemia is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte disturbance frequently encountered in emergency departments. Timely recognition and appropriate treatment are critical to prevent serious complications such as cardiac arrhythmias and death. This narrative review summarises current evidence-based and guideline-based recommendations for the emergency management of hyperkalaemia, with a focus on practical challenges and frequently encountered clinical uncertainties. A selective literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE and major international guidelines, emphasising clinical studies performed in emergency departments or acute care settings.Key treatment principles include therapy with intravenous calcium salts, primarily indicated in patients with ECG changes or serum potassium levels ≥6.5 mmol/L. Insulin-glucose therapy remains a cornerstone of transcellular potassium shifting but carries a considerable risk of subsequent hypoglycaemia, particularly in non-diabetic patients with low baseline glucose levels. Inhaled beta-agonists such as salbutamol provide an effective and synergistic potassium-lowering effect and are recommended in combination with insulin. The use of sodium bicarbonate remains uncertain and its indication appears limited to patients with severe comorbid conditions and metabolic acidosis. Diuretics may support potassium elimination in patients with volume overload, although prospective evidence in ED populations is lacking. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate is no longer recommended due to questionable efficacy and risk of gastrointestinal adverse events. Newer potassium binders, including sodium zirconium cyclosilicate and patiromer, show promise in recent studies but require further validation in acute care settings. Haemodialysis remains the definitive option in refractory cases or patients with end-stage renal disease.