Oral potassium chloride and oral rehydration solution supplement to prevent hypokalemia in sodium phosphate regimen for bowel preparation prior to gynecological laparoscopic surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of oral potassium chloride and oral rehydration solution (ORS) supplement for hypokalemia prevention after sodium phosphate (NaP) bowel preparation.

METHODS

A comparative historical study of patients who underwent gynecological laparoscopic surgery between June 2005 and December 2007 and received NaP for bowel preparation prior to surgery. In the experiment group, a 10% Potassium chloride (KCl) elixir and ORS supplement was introduced to 47 of the patients. The control group of 42 patients received only pure water Age, body mass index, and time of defecation after NaP bowel preparation were recorded. Serum potassium level before NaP (K0), 4 hours (K4), and 10 hours (K10) after last dose of NaP were measured in both groups.

RESULTS

It was found that the experiment group could maintain serum potassium level well. The mean +/- SD of serum potassium level before NaP (K0), at 4 hours after NaP (K4) and at 10 hours after NaP (K10) were 3.99 +/- 0.35, 4.09 +/- 0.43, 4.03 +/- 0.63, respectively. In the control group, the K0 was similar to that in the experiment group but the K4 decreased to 3.50 +/- 0.35 and K10 was 3.76 +/- 0.40 which had a significant difference (p = 0.011). Serum hypokalemia (K < 3.5 mmol/L) was found in 22 patients (52.38%) of the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral KCl elixir and ORS supplement for sodium phosphate bowel preparation regimen can prevent hypokalemia prior to surgery.