Effect of Potassium Infusions on Serum Levels in Children during Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

A retrospective study was done to determine the effect of potassium (K + ) infusions on serum levels in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Eighty-two percent of 92 cases studied received 40 mEq/L K + infusion over the treatment period of median 13.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7-18) hours. The median K + value at the end of this period was 3.9 (IQR: 3.4-4.2) mEq/L. There were 31 data points of low K + values (<3.5 mEq/L) and 4 high values (>5.5 mEq/L) during this treatment period. The K + infusions of 40 mEq/L may be sufficient to normalize serum K + when treating DKA.