ABSTRACT
To determine the frequency of dysnatremia and dyskalemiain cardiac surgical intensive care unit patients and to identify the factors associated with the changes in potassium and sodium levels. Cross Sectional study. Cardiac surgical intensive care unit [ICU] of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology / National Institute of Heart Diseases [AFIC/NIHD] from July 2013 to November 2013. Post-operative patients in cardiac surgical intensive care unit were selected through non probability convenient sampling. Demographic and clinical data was collected for all patients including: age, sex etc. Additionally, laboratory data such as potassium and sodium serum concentrations were recorded of day one of the first five post operative days. Out of 100 patients, 51% had dyskalemia, 33% had episodes of hypokalemia, and 19% had hyperkalemia. On the other hand 79% patients had dysnatremia, among them 71%had hyponatremia, and 8% had hypernatremia. Dyskalemia and dysnatremia are common problems in cardiac surgical ICU with higher frequency of hyponatremia as compared to hypernatremia, and hypokalemia as compared to hyperkalemia