Simulation : Emergencies : Hyperkalemia

About Foch Hospital (Hôpital Foch):

With 2,000 staff members (including 300 doctors) and 600 beds, Foch Hospital is one of the most effective and renowned non-profit university-hospitals with a public service mission in France.

The Foch Hospital indeed provides a wide range of treatments to adult patients in almost all of the medical and surgical domains and commits to education and research, while paying crucial attention to patient care, including through the investment in cutting-edge medical technology.

Foch hospital stands out from the French medical offer by being the leader in the field of neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, gynaecology, urology, anaesthesia, ICU, internal medicine and oncology through innovative treatments.

Training at Foch Hospital is covered by:

• 50% of ward heads at Foch Hospital who also are University professors

• 1 nursing school with 60 students per promotion

• 1 midwifery school with 28 students per class

• 1 continuing education institute, “Foch Santé Formation”

• 1 simulation platform of 600 m2

Hyperkalaemia is defined as plasma potassium L 5.5 mmol/l. It is moderate between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/l and severe if the potassium is L 7 mmol/l. L

Moderate hyperkalaemia causes only a few symptoms or is completely asymptomatic. Sometimes it can be associated with muscle weakness. In a rare condition called hyperkalemic familial periodic paralysis, people have attacks of weakness that can progress to paralysis.

In the more severe form of hyperkalemia, it can lead to heart rhythm disturbances. If the rate is very high, cardiac arrest can occur.

BIOGRAPHY of Dr Marie-Christine BALLESTER

Doctor Marie-Christine BALLESTER has been Head of the Emergency Department and of the Multipurpose Short Stay Unit since September 2017.

She worked as an emergency doctor for 14 years at the Georges Pompidou European Hospital (AP-HP) before coming to Foch Hospital and has been a hospital practitioner for 12 years.

Doctor BALLESTER was trained in simulation training at iLumens in 2016 and regularly trains interns at the simulation centre of the Foch Hospital.

o An intern

o Two nurses

o A care assistant

o A senior doctor

Briefing :

Specific objectives will be determined at the beginning of the simulation session and will be targeted for debriefing.

Context of the simulation :

You will work in an Emergency Department with access to all specialities and technical platforms. The patient rushes to the emergency room, without taking with him the results of the blood test administered by his attending physician.

Subject of the simulation :

The patient, who has been tired for a few weeks, has difficulty urinating. His GP has mentioned prostatitis + other related emergency scenario.

Debriefing :

Analysis of the course of the simulation and tipsfor an optimal support.