The Effects of Calcium Gluconate Administration on Potassium Levels of Post Packed Red Cell (PRC) Transfusion Patients with More Than Three-Day-Stored Blood at RSUP Haji Adam Malik, Medan

Background: Blood transfusion is an important and routine medical treatment, especially in cases requiring surgeries such as trauma. One of the biochemical changes that occurs in PRC due to erythrocyte storage is an increase in potassium levels. Hyperkalemia is the most common complication of stored blood transfusion. Cardiac arrest has been widely reported in transfusion-associated hyperkalemia. Methods : This study used a pre-experimental study with a pretest-posttest group design to determine the effects of Ca gluconate administration on blood potassium levels in patients receiving packed red cell (PRC) transfusions with blood stored for > 3 days at RSUP Haji Adam Malik Medan. Results : The distribution of sample characteristics in this study showed a mean age of 46 ± 13.63. There were 7 (22.6%) male and 24 (77.4%) female patients, with a mean BMI of 23.28 ± 6.44. Based on the hemodynamic profile, the mean systolic BP was 105.87 ± 20.59, diastolic BP 70.41 ± 11.94, RR 23.06 ± 2.39 and MAP 83.31 ± 14.48. The mean value of potassium levels before an administration of Ca gluconate was 5.84 ± 0.89, while the mean value after the administration was 5.43 ± 0.90. There were no statistically significant changes in the potassium levels after the administration of Ca gluconate in any samples. Conclusions : There are effects of Ca gluconate administration on the potassium levels of post Packed red cell (PRC) transfusion patients with blood stored for > 3 days at RSUP Haji Adam Malik Medan.