Hypokalemic paralysis mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome and causing acute respiratory failure

A 33-year-old female patient admitted to the ICU with ascending muscle weakness leading to acute hypercapneic respiratory failure. She gave a 10-day history of severe diarrhea and vomiting. Laboratory work up revealed severe hypokalemia, mixed metabolic and respiratory acidosis, and renal impairment...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Middle East journal of anaesthesiology Vol. 17; no. 5; p. 891
Main Authors:	Haddad, Samir, Arabi, Yaseen, Shimemeri, Abdullah Al
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Lebanon 01-06-2004
Subjects:	Acidosis, Respiratory - physiopathology Adrenergic beta-Agonists - therapeutic use Adult Albuterol - therapeutic use Asthma - drug therapy Blood Gas Analysis Diagnosis, Differential Electrocardiography - drug effects Female Guillain-Barre Syndrome - diagnosis Humans Hypokalemia - complications Hypokalemia - diagnosis Hypokalemia - drug therapy Muscle Weakness - drug therapy Paralysis - diagnosis Paralysis - drug therapy Paralysis - etiology Potassium - therapeutic use Quadriplegia - diagnosis Quadriplegia - drug therapy Quadriplegia - etiology Respiratory Insufficiency - etiology
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Summary:	A 33-year-old female patient admitted to the ICU with ascending muscle weakness leading to acute hypercapneic respiratory failure. She gave a 10-day history of severe diarrhea and vomiting. Laboratory work up revealed severe hypokalemia, mixed metabolic and respiratory acidosis, and renal impairment. Continuous potassium replacement produced rapid and complete recovery from quadriplegia and respiratory failure without requirement for mechanical ventilation.
ISSN:	0544-0440