Acute life-threatening hyperkalaemia in a patient with giant hydronephrosis: a case report

Abstract

A 52-year-old man with a history of urolithiasis presents to the emergency department with a sudden, sharp, continuous right flank colicky pain. Laboratory workup demonstrates acute kidney injury with a mild hyperkalaemia. During the observation period, the patient develops an atypical broad complex sinus bradycardia and eventually short asystolic periods. This was caused by a severe therapy-resistant hyperkalaemia, wherefore emergency haemodialysis was necessary. Radiographic results showed a giant hydronephrosis with a blowout of the right kidney and an obstructing calculi of 21 mm in the distal ureter. We will discuss the mechanism of reversed intraperitoneal dialysis causing the refractory hyperkalaemia and the need of close ECG monitoring in patients where kidney blowout is considered.