Unanticipated hyperkalemia during thyroid cancer surgery

This scenario was designed to teach the diagnosis and treatment of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening disorder, which can cause an arrhythmia that can lead to cardiac arrest. Along with identifying a change in electrocardiogram (ECG) followed by hyperkalemia, history-taking associated with hyperkalemia is important for diagnosis. There are multiple causes of hyperkalemia including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and some medications such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The most important thing is to make a differential diagnosis and provide proper treatment immediately.ope