رجل عمره ٧٠ سنة عنده إسهال من ٣ أيام، ويأخذ فوروسيمايد. البوتاسيوم ٣٫٠، والتخطيط يظهر موجات U خفيفة، والكلى طبيعية. الطبيب كتب كلوريد البوتاسيوم ٢٠ ملمول وريدياً، والمريض عنده كانيولا طرفية فقط. أي طريقة إعطاء صحيحة؟

A 70-year-old man on furosemide has had diarrhoea for 3 days. Potassium is 3.0, the ECG shows mild U waves and renal function is normal. The doctor orders potassium chloride 20 mmol IV; he has only a peripheral cannula. Which administration method is correct?

1. A slow direct IV push over two minutes
2. Subcutaneously, split between two sites
3. Diluted in 50 mL and given over 5 minutes by pump
4. Diluted, by pump, usually at 10 mmol/h or less

Answer: D) Diluted, by pump, usually at 10 mmol/h or less. IV potassium is never given as a push because it can stop the heart. It is diluted and given by pump, peripherally usually at no more than 10 mmol/h per policy, with site monitoring.