Uncommon and Unfavorable: Heparin-Induced Hyperkalemia

Heparin remains an integral part of cardiac and vascular surgery, where it is used to prevent catastrophic thromboembolic events resulting from vascular manipulation and extracorporeal circulation1. Heparin and its many analogs also see extensive and routine use in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE)1. Despite its ubiquity and long history of use, heparin is known to carry risks of adverse events, perhaps most infamously heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)2. A less common, yet potentially lethal adverse effect is heparin-induced hyperkalemia (HIH).
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Case Report Source Type: research