Terminal Arrhythmia due to Hyperkalemia Corrected by Intravenous Calcium Infusion

Claudio Campieri, MD, Institute of Nephrology, S. Orsola University Hospital, I-40138 Bologna (Italy) Dear Sir, the ECG changes due to hyperkalemia have been known since the contribution of Merrill et al. [1] in 1950. Hemodialysis can quickly normalize the severe ‘sinus wave’ arrhythmia that is generally considered a terminal event but it is difficult to document the ECG pattern of transition from the life-threatening arrhythmia to the sinus rhythm. Λ We present the ECG strip (recorded on admission to the hospital) of lead II of a patient with severe hyperkalemia (serum K+ 9.0 mmol/l) due to acute renal failure.