DKA

This case is written by Dr. Lindsey McMurray. She is a PGY4 Emergency Medicine resident from the University of Toronto who is currently doing a Resuscitation and Reanimation fellowship at Queen’s University.

Why it Matters

DKA is a physiologically complex disorder. Thanks to excellent research and protocolization of care, certain components of DKA care have been clearly delineated. However, in the profoundly unwell DKA, it can be harder to account for complex physiology. This case highlights a few important management pearls:

• The importance of re-assessing glucose in an altered patient with DKA on an insulin infusion
• The consideration of cerebral edema in a DKA patient who becomes altered
• The importance of expertly managing acidosis in the peri-intubation period by considering pre and post intubation respiratory rate

Our reviewers had quite the debate about what is considered optimal peri-intubation management in this patient. This case serves as an excellent starting point for a high-level discussion about the intubation of a severely acidotic patient. In particular:

• Pre-intubation bicarbonate is relatively contraindicated in Peds DKA. Balancing the increased acidosis peri-intubation against the increased risk of cerebral edema is challenging.
• A second IV fluid bolus pre-intubation is also controversial. Would it increase the risk of cerebral edema?
• Is intubation with or without a paralytic the best choice? Using a paralytic optimizes time to intubation and first pass success, as well as minimizing aspiration risk. But it also eliminates the patient’s respiratory drive, which could potentially worsen acidosis and precipitate arrest. Not using a paralytic runs the risk of increased time to intubation and a resultant desaturation. It also adds an aspiration risk.

For this, and so many other reasons, this case will trigger plenty of discussion during debriefing!

Clinical Vignette

You have been called to the resuscitation bay to assess an 8 year old girl who has been brought in by her mother for lethargy and confusion. She has been unwell for 3 days with excessive fatigue, a few episodes of vomiting, and mild abdominal pain.

Case Summary

An 8 year old girl who has been tired and “unwell” for several days presents to the ED with an acute decline in her mental status. She is confused and lethargic. It becomes quickly apparent that the child is in DKA and requires immediate treatment. Due to decreasing neurologic status and vomiting, she eventually requires an advanced airway. The challenge is to optimize the peri-intubation course and to appropriately ventilate to allow for compensation of her metabolic acidosis.

Download the case here: DKA Case

CXR for case found here:

(CXR source: https://emcow.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/normal-intubation2.jpg)