Answer :
Final answer:
Potassium should be repleted in patients with DKA at a safe rate that is attuned to their specific needs. The correct rate is 20 mEq/hour, with a 10 mEq dose raising potassium levels by 0.2 mEq per liter of blood.
Explanation:
When managing a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), it is important to replenish potassium (K+) carefully. Patients with DKA may appear to have high potassium levels due to acidosis, but they are typically potassium depleted. Potassium replacement should occur at a rate that is safe and takes into account the patient's kidney function and current potassium levels.
The correct answer to the question 'At what rate should K+ be repleted? How much does 10 mEq correct K+ level?' is B. 20 mEq/hour; 0.2 mEq increase per liter. This means that for every 10 mEq of potassium administered, there should be an expected increase in serum potassium levels by 0.2 mEq per liter. It's critical to monitor the patient's serum potassium frequently during supplementation to avoid overcorrection and potential complications.
