Prevention and Control System of Hypokalemia in Fast Recovery After Abdominal Surgery

Yan Zhong,Ping Shi,Guanzhen Lu,Yutao Huang,Qiang Yan

doi:10.1016/j.curtheres.2013.02.004

Abstract

BackgroundBlood potassium levels were very important during perioperative management of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. According to various worldwide studies on the causes of hypokalemia and fast-track surgeries, prehospital hypokalemia was ignored. ObjectiveThe aim of this study to construct a prevention and control system of hypokalemia through proper clinical pathways and investigate the effects in terms of fast postoperative recovery of patients undergoing open abdominal surgery. MethodsA total of 104 patients were randomized to an observation group or a control group. The prevention and control system of hypokalemia was constructed; it was composed of 3 major modules: blood potassium monitoring, etiologic intervention, and treatment of hypokalemia. In the observation group, blood was sampled at scheduled time points (the blood potassium monitoring module) and interventions involved the preadmission and pre- and postoperative periods (etiologic intervention module). In the control group, blood sampling was delayed until after admission (blood potassium monitoring module) and interventions were only performed during the pre- and postoperative periods (etiologic intervention module). In terms of blood potassium, indices regarding gastrointestinal motility and postoperative complications were compared. ResultsThe severity of hypokalemia, postoperative defecation time, arrhythmia, fatigue syndrome, and urine retention differed statistically between the 2 groups (P < 0.05). The times to detect hypokalemia and resolve the blood condition before and after the surgery and at the first bowel sound, defecation and evacuation times differed significantly between the 2 groups (P < 0.01). ConclusionsThe prevention and control system of hypokalemia with the starting point being before admission was more effective and allows early prevention, detection, correction, surgery, and recovery of patients undergoing open abdominal surgeries and also could be used in other specialized nursing fields.

Highlights

Blood potassium levels could differ slightly among individuals and were very important during perioperative management of patients undergoing abdominal surgery
The first measurement of the serum potassium level after admission to the hospital shows that many patients had had hypokalemia before, which could not be
Digestive organs were primarily involved in abdominal surgeries, and diet was closely related with differences in blood potassium levels

Summary

Introduction

Blood potassium levels could differ slightly among individuals and were very important during perioperative management of patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Objective: The aim of this study to construct a prevention and control system of hypokalemia through proper clinical pathways and investigate the effects in terms of fast postoperative recovery of patients undergoing open abdominal surgery. Blood sampling was delayed until after admission (blood potassium monitoring module) and interventions were only performed during the pre- and postoperative periods (etiologic intervention module). Conclusions: The prevention and control system of hypokalemia with the starting point being before admission was more effective and allows early prevention, detection, correction, surgery, and recovery of patients undergoing open abdominal surgeries and could be used in other specialized nursing fields

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