A patient in the ICU develops acute exacerbation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis. What intervention should the healthcare team prioritize to manage the patient's metabolic derangements?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In the scenario described, with the patient having an acute exacerbation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) leading to hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis, the priority intervention to manage the metabolic derangements is to perform emergent hemodialysis for potassium removal. Hemodialysis is the most effective and rapid method to lower dangerously high potassium levels in the blood. It is crucial in cases of severe hyperkalemia where other measures such as medications or dietary modifications may not be sufficient or fast enough to correct the elevated potassium levels. Additionally, hemodialysis can also help in improving metabolic acidosis by removing waste products and excess electrolytes from the blood. Overall, emergent hemodialysis is the most appropriate intervention for managing the acute metabolic abnormalities in this critically ill patient.