Hypokalaemic myopathy following ileal resection.

Introduction Persistent diarrhoea after ileal resection may cause profound electrolyte disturbance. Potassium homoeostasis is particularly vulnerable as watery diarrhoea contains large quantities of potassium (McColl and Sladen, 1975) and the ability of the kidney to conserve this cation is poor (Lawson, 1976). In these circumstances oral potassium supplements are essential to prevent severe hypokalaemia, which may result in proximal muscle weakness so severe as to cause generalized paralysis. This report concerns a patient who developed an acute hypokalaemic myopathy owing to persistent diarrhoea following a resection of ileum and right hemicolectomy for carcinoma of the colon.