PREVALENCE OF HYPOKALEMIA AFTER BOWEL PREPARATION IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING COLORECTAL INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:-Bowel preparation is usually done before colonoscopy and other colorectal interventions. It mostly contain oral sodium phosphate or polyethylene glycol solutions.. Bowel preparation results in electrolyte shifts, requiring special precautions especially in high risk patients. It causes abdominal distension ( ileus), muscle cramps , arrhythmia, hypokalemia.This study is undertaken to determine the electrolyte imbalances and clinical outcome of the patient who underwent bowel preparation and colorectal intervention. MATERIAL AND METHODS:- We conducted our study in Department of General Surgery, Dr. B. R. A. M. Hospital Raipur C.G. over a period of 1 year.Written and informed consent was taken from all the patients. This study is hospital based,cross sectional observational study.Patient was given two liters polyethylene glycol based solution which contain polyethylene glycol,sodium chloride,potassium chloride,sodium bicarbonate,and anhydrous sodium sulfate for bowel cleansing and asked to drink the solution in 2 hrs and to feed on only clear fluids. We compared serum potassium levels before and after bowel preparation and evaluated the development of hypokalemia after bowel preparation. RESULTS:- The study was done among 71 patients who underwent bowel preparation before colorectal intervention at Dr.B.R.A.M. hospital Raipur (C.G.) in one year. 36.6% of the participants developed mild hypokalemia after bowel preparation. Most of the patients belong to age group of 41-50 years(26.8%). The duration of passage of first flatus and first feces after intervention was longer in patient with hypokalemia (1.73 and 3.30) as compared to patient with normokalemia (0.87 and 1.26). CONCLUSION :-On the basis of our study it is evident that hypokalemia can develop after bowel preparation in patients who underwent colorectal interventions.