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Electrolytic Abnormalities Related to Potassium in Critically Ill Cancer Patients

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Oncologic Critical Care

Abstract

Potassium homeostasis is vital to maintaining some physiological processes such as cell growth, nucleic acids, and protein synthesis, regulation of cell volume, acid-base balance, enzyme activation, and maintenance of resting membrane potential for cellular excitability. Potassium abnormalities are significant metabolic emergencies in the oncologic ICU patient. They are associated with life-threatening complications, higher mortality rates, and longer length of stay. Cancer patients are at particular risk due to the underlying malignancy, prescribed drugs, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, ICU-related treatment, surgery, and other metabolic impairments. Intensivists must be aware because hyperkalemia and hypokalemia can remain asymptomatic in some patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Instituto Médico de Alta Tecnología IMAT Oncomedica, Montería, Colombia

    Agamenón Quintero, Jorge Racedo & Aaron Rafael Quintero Hernández

  2. School of Medicine, Universidad del Sinú, Montería, Colombia

    Aaron Rafael Quintero Hernández

Authors
  1. Agamenón Quintero
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  2. Jorge Racedo
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  3. Aaron Rafael Quintero Hernández
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jorge Racedo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care and Respiratory Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Joseph L. Nates

  2. Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Department of Critical Care and Respiratory Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Kristen J. Price

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Quintero, A., Racedo, J., Quintero Hernández, A.R. (2020). Electrolytic Abnormalities Related to Potassium in Critically Ill Cancer Patients. In: Nates, J., Price, K. (eds) Oncologic Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74588-6_87

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74588-6_87

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-74587-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-74588-6

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