Brendan Carvalho
Publication Details
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'Near-miss' hyperkalaemic cardiac arrest associated with rapid blood transfusion.
Anaesthesia. 1999; (11): 1094-6
A case is presented in which a relatively modest blood transfusion resulted in acute hyperkalaemia with a 'near-miss' cardiac arrest. While transfusion-related hyperkalaemia usually occurs in association with massive transfusions, several factors may have increased the risk of such an acute reaction. A high index of suspicion is required, especially in patients with risk factors. Anaesthetists should not be lulled into a false sense of security simply because modest volumes of blood are being transfused.
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