II. Mechanism of action: Cardiac effect
-
Calcium is a positive inotrope
- Increases force of myocardial contraction
- Variable effect on Systemic Vascular Resistance
III. Efficacy
- No proven benefit in Cardiac Arrest
IV. Indications
-
Hypocalcemia
- Often occurs after Blood Transfusion
- Hyperkalemia
- Hypermagnesemia
-
Calcium Channel Blocker Overdose or toxicity
- May also prevent hypotensive effect of IV agent
- Not indicated in:
V. Preparation
- Calcium Chloride (10%): 100 mg per ml
- Contains 27.2 mg/ml elemental Calcium
- Advantages over Calcium Gluconate
- Higher Calcium amount (3x)
- Drives predictably higher Serum Calcium levels
- Historically preferred in patients with shock
- However Calcium Gluconate likely has same efficacy with better peripheral IV safety
- Does not require first-pass metabolism
- However Calcium Gluconate does not require first-pass metabolism either (despite common dogma)
- Calcium Gluconate (10%)
- Contains 9 mg/ml elemental Calcium
- Less venous sclerosis with infusion than with Calcium Chloride
- Preferred agent if only peripheral IV available
- Calcium Gluceptate
- References
- Swaminathan and Herbert (2014) EM:Rap 14(1): 13-14
- Martin (1990) Anesthesiology 73(1): 62-5 [PubMed]
VI. Dosing: Calcium Gluconate (10%, 0.4 mEq/ml)
-
Hypocalcemia
- Calcium Gluconate 1-2 grams in 50 ml D5W over 1 hour
- Emergent dosing
- Initial: 2 ampules (20 ml) IV over 10-30 minutes
- Maintenance: 60ml in 500ml D5W at 0.5-2.0 mg/kg/h
VII. Dosing: Calcium Chloride (10%, 1.4 mEq/ml)
- Administer no faster than 0.5 to 1 ml/minute
-
General indications (e.g. Hyperkalemia)
- Child: 0.2 - 0.25 ml/kg given very slowly
- Adult: 5-10 ml given very slowly
- Prophylaxis of Calcium Channel BlockerHypotension
- Initial: 2 - 4 mg/kg IV given very slowly (over >10 minutes)
- Repeat as needed every 10 minutes
VIII. Precautions
- Rapid Calcium administration may result in:
-
Drug Interaction
- Digoxin: Digitalis Toxicity
- Sodium Bicarbonate: precipitates with Calcium
- Coronary vasospasm
- Local tissue injury
- Peripheral vein sclerosis
- Local Chemical Burns if infiltrates into tissue
IX. Monitoring while on Calcium Infusion
- Follow Calcium levels every 4-6 hours