Ellen Penchuk, IBCLC wrote:
> Slightly off topic:
>
> "The SIDS cases showed extreme acidosis, with an average pH of 6.15 
> compared with an average of 6.65 among children who died of respiratory 
>
> causes. The SIDS bicarbonate buffer was decreased to an average of 6.31 
>
> mEq/L compared with an average of 15.8 mEq/L among cases of respiratory 
>
> death.
>
> These findings suggest that the brainstem respiratory center may have shu
> t 
> down secondary to severe metabolic acidosis, Dr. McGaffey said. "The 
> elevation in carbonic acid [averaging 5.24 mEq/L in SIDS cases compared 
>
> with 2.33 mEq/L in cases of respiratory death] suggests that metabolic 
>
> acidosis was the cause of death," she explained. "As our findings 
> indicate, respiratory acidosis is associated with lower, not higher, 
> carbonic acid." 
>
> Electrolyte levels were also severely imbalanced. Extreme hyperkalemia wa
> s 
> one of the most striking findings: the SIDS babies had an average 
> potassium concentration of 24.4 mEq/L compared with a normal range of 4.1
>  
> to 5.3 mEq/L, according to Dr. McGaffey. 
I couldn't get into medscape to read this whole article, but how on 
earth would someone's potassium level be 24.4?  The highest I saw back 
when I was still working as an RN was around 8 or 9 and the patient was 
elderly, in the ICU with severe kidney failure.  I just can't imagine 
how an infant's potassium would, or could, get that high?  Does anyone 
have any insight for me?  I understand that an elevated BUN/UA would 
suggest early kidney failure, but a K level that high just seems 
impossible with early kidney failure?  Wouldn't any human die before it 
could ever get that high?

It definitely is interesting though,

Liz Cammin, RN

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