World's Largest Resource for Cardiovascular Perfusion

KCL Shortage UPDATE

Most Recent Resupply Dates

2 mEq/mL; 20 mL vial (NDC 0409-6653-05) (Standard) Next delivery June
10 mEq/100 mL (NDC 00409-7074-26) Ample supplies available to meet market demand.
10 mEq/50 mL (NDC 00409-7075-14) Ample supplies available to meet market demand.
20 mEq/100 mL,
(NDC00409-7075-26)
Ample supplies available to meet market demand.
20 mEq/50 mL
(NDC 00409-7077-14)
Ample supplies available to meet market demand.
40 mEq/100 mL(NDC 00409-7077-26) Ample supplies available to meet market demand.

Editors Note:

With 2 mEq Being our standard concentration (@ our institutions)–  Here is a break down on one way to work with what’s available:

the 20 mEq/50 ml solution seems to be the best bet:

(0.4 mEq/ml- or 1/5 strength of our current concentration)

So adding 100 cc to a 400 ml NSS bag would give you roughly the 80 mEq/L concentration we use for a 4:1 Blood to Crystalloid (High dose primary KCL) cardioplegia delivery.

And adding 25 cc to a 475 ml NSS bag would give you roughly the 20 mEq / L concentration we use for a 4:1 Blood to Crystalloid (Low dose secondary KCL) cardioplegia delivery.

(I know these are ONLY approximate concentration values)

A Work Around for Quest MPS Users

  • A Thermal Coil
  • Coil / Bucket Holder
  • Manometer
  • Manometer Holder

Click to view manufacturer product page

Click to view manufacturer product page

Editors Note:

This is NOT an advertisement for the above products. 

But when discussing it with a good friend and colleague of mine, and in light of the fact that we use the Quest MPS as our cardioplegia delivery system, this seemed to be a reasonable solution. 

My experience with this system ranges 4 years- and it is a solid performer, and effective cooling system.

It allows us to adjust well to the KCL shortage- and eliminates the need for additional heater/cooler hardware additions or heater / cooler modifications.

Any suggestions are welcome ?


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