Hypokalemia and Ventricular Arrhythmia In Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Retrospective Study (1992 - 1997)

Abstract

Hypokakmia is a cause of ventricular arrhythmia that can lead to veiitricular
tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation in patient suffering from Acute myocardlal
infarction. Study was conducted to find out any association between Hypokalemia
and malignant arrhythmias In acute myociardial infarction. This retrospective study
was conducted by screening of the charts of 2579 patknts with newly diagnosed MI
admitted durIng Jan. 1992 - 1997. Amongst 267 (10%) patients having malignant
arrhythmia during the course of acute MI, 112 patients bad bypokalemia. Whereas
164 were normokalemic. Cause of hypokalemia was diuretic therapy in 80 patients,
diabetes in 18 patients and eicessive vomiting in 10 patients. Incidence of VT and VP as different with various levels of S. Potassium. Amongst 600 patients suffering from hvpokalemia, 21 patients out of 76 at S.K level of (2.0- 2.5) m.eq/1, 48 patients out of 256 at level of(2.5 -3.0) m.eq/1.43 out of 268 at level of (3.0- 3.5) m.eq/I had VT and VF in CCU. So the hypokalemia has significant effect in producing fatal arrhythmia
in AMI, and Serum level is directly proportional to the incidence of VT/VP in this
setup.