Article Content

You are correct. Potassium chloride should always be diluted and never be given too rapidly by iv push. In critical situations, potassium chloride is diluted and then administered through an iv into a peripheral vein at a rate of infusion that should not exceed 20 mEq/hour or in concentrations greater than 30 to 40 mEq/L, unless hypokalemia is severe. 1

 

REFERENCE

 

1. National Institutes of Health, Intravenous Potassium Chloride Infusions, Policy and Communications Bulletin. 2000 July 18. http://push.cc.nih.gov/policies/PDF/M92-8.pdf. [Context Link]