Editing Hyperkalemia Treatment (E.A.T. D.I.C.K.) (section)

== The mnemonic ==
For severe '''hyperkalemia''' (elevated serum potassium), a nursing student asked what to do for a potassium of 7.1 mEq/L. The answer, as a memory aid: '''E.A.T. D.I.C.K.'''

;E
:'''EKG''' — get a 12-lead / continuous cardiac monitoring immediately. Hyperkalemia is a cardiac emergency; ECG changes (peaked T waves, widened QRS, flattened P waves, eventual sine wave pattern) drive urgency and treatment sequencing.
;A
:'''Albuterol''' — nebulized beta-2 agonist. Shifts potassium intracellularly (temporary, does not remove potassium from the body).
;T
:'''Telemetry''' — continuous cardiac monitoring throughout treatment; hyperkalemia can cause fatal dysrhythmias with little warning.
;D
:'''Dextrose''' — given with insulin (see next letter) to prevent hypoglycemia while insulin drives potassium into cells.
;I
:'''Insulin''' — IV regular insulin is one of the fastest ways to shift potassium intracellularly; always given with dextrose unless the patient is already hyperglycemic.
;C
:'''Calcium''' (gluconate or chloride) — does '''not''' lower serum potassium. It stabilizes the cardiac cell membrane and is given first, before the potassium-lowering measures, when ECG changes are present, to protect the heart while the other interventions take effect.
;K
:'''Kayexelate''' (sodium polystyrene sulfonate) or '''Lokelma''' (patiromer/sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) — these are the interventions that actually '''remove''' potassium from the body (via the GI tract), rather than just shifting it intracellularly. Slower onset than the measures above. Dialysis is the definitive treatment for severe or refractory cases.