TY - JOUR
T1 - BRASH Syndrome
T2 - Bradycardia, Renal Failure, AV Blockade, Shock, and Hyperkalemia
AU - Farkas, Joshua D.
AU - Long, Brit
AU - Koyfman, Alex
AU - Menson, Katherine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
PY - 2020/8
Y1 - 2020/8
N2 - Background: BRASH syndrome, or Bradycardia, Renal Failure, AV blockade, Shock, and Hyperkalemia, has recently become recognized as a collection of objective findings in a specific clinical context pertaining to emergency medicine and critical care. However, there is little emergency medicine and critical care literature specifically evaluating this condition. Objective: We sought to define and review BRASH syndrome and identify specific management techniques that differ from the syndromes as they present individually. Discussion: BRASH syndrome is initiated by synergistic bradycardia due to the combination of hyperkalemia and medications that block the atrioventricular (AV) node. The most common precipitant is hypovolemia or medications promoting hyperkalemia or renal injury. Left untreated, this may result in deteriorating renal function, worsening hyperkalemia, and hemodynamic instability. Patients can present with a variety of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic bradycardia to multiorgan failure. BRASH syndrome should be differentiated from isolated hyperkalemia and overdose of AV-nodal blocking medications. Treatment includes fluid resuscitation, hyperkalemia therapies (intravenous calcium, insulin/glucose, beta agonists, diuresis), management of bradycardia (which may necessitate epinephrine infusion), and more advanced therapies if needed (lipid emulsion, glucagon, or high-dose insulin infusion). Understanding and recognizing the pathophysiology of BRASH syndrome as a distinct entity may improve patient outcomes. Conclusions: BRASH syndrome can be a difficult diagnosis and is due to a combination of hyperkalemia and medications that block the AV node. Knowledge of this condition may assist emergency and critical care providers.
AB - Background: BRASH syndrome, or Bradycardia, Renal Failure, AV blockade, Shock, and Hyperkalemia, has recently become recognized as a collection of objective findings in a specific clinical context pertaining to emergency medicine and critical care. However, there is little emergency medicine and critical care literature specifically evaluating this condition. Objective: We sought to define and review BRASH syndrome and identify specific management techniques that differ from the syndromes as they present individually. Discussion: BRASH syndrome is initiated by synergistic bradycardia due to the combination of hyperkalemia and medications that block the atrioventricular (AV) node. The most common precipitant is hypovolemia or medications promoting hyperkalemia or renal injury. Left untreated, this may result in deteriorating renal function, worsening hyperkalemia, and hemodynamic instability. Patients can present with a variety of symptoms ranging from asymptomatic bradycardia to multiorgan failure. BRASH syndrome should be differentiated from isolated hyperkalemia and overdose of AV-nodal blocking medications. Treatment includes fluid resuscitation, hyperkalemia therapies (intravenous calcium, insulin/glucose, beta agonists, diuresis), management of bradycardia (which may necessitate epinephrine infusion), and more advanced therapies if needed (lipid emulsion, glucagon, or high-dose insulin infusion). Understanding and recognizing the pathophysiology of BRASH syndrome as a distinct entity may improve patient outcomes. Conclusions: BRASH syndrome can be a difficult diagnosis and is due to a combination of hyperkalemia and medications that block the AV node. Knowledge of this condition may assist emergency and critical care providers.
KW - AV blockade
KW - BRASH syndrome
KW - bradycardia
KW - hyperkalemia
KW - renal failure
KW - shock
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.05.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2020.05.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 32565167
AN - SCOPUS:85086648389
SN - 0736-4679
VL - 59
SP - 216
EP - 223
JO - Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 2
ER -