[Assessment of total body potassium and water for therapeutic control of maldigestion syndromes (author's transl)].

Abstract

Severe intracellular potassium depletion was found with maldigestion (short bowel, high output fistula, M. Crohn, colitis ulcerativa) when total body potassium and water measurement were taken. Serum potassium levels were misleading. These methods are of particular value in planning and conducting a preoperative infusion therapy to correct the documented deficit.