PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Matthew Rubens AU - Constantinos Kanaris TI - Fifteen-minute consultation: Emergency management of children presenting with hyperkalaemia AID - 10.1136/archdischild-2021-322080 DP - 2021 Aug 03 TA - Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition PG - edpract-2021-322080 4099 - http://ep.bmj.com/content/early/2021/08/02/archdischild-2021-322080.short 4100 - http://ep.bmj.com/content/early/2021/08/02/archdischild-2021-322080.full AB - Hyperkalaemia can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. A good understanding of the physiological basis of management can help us rationalise treatment and reduce plasma potassium levels efficiently and effectively. Management focuses on avoidance of arrythmias, rapid intracellular movement of potassium and finally reduction of total body potassium. Fluid management in hyperkalaemia should be carefully considered, with balanced solutions providing theoretical benefits compared to 0.9% saline in certain situations.