Acute abdomen with colonic necrosis induced by Kayexalate-sorbitol.
Colonic necrosis is an unusual complication after treatment of hyperkalemia with sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS, Kayexalate) in sorbitol. To increase awareness of this complication, we report a case of necrosis of the transverse colon in a patient given oral and rectal SPS-sorbitol for hyperkalemia. Colonic necrosis was manifested as an acute abdomen within 24 hours of initial administration. Prompt surgical resection of the necrotic transverse colon permitted rapid recovery of bowel function. Although SPS crystals are seen microscopically in the necrotic bowel, experimental evidence implicates the sorbitol component of the SPS-sorbitol in the pathogenesis of colonic necrosis. A high index of suspicion for the unusual complication of colonic necrosis after oral or rectal administration of SPS-sorbitol may allow prompt recognition and surgical cure.
Dardik
A
A
Department of Surgery, the Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, MD, USA.
Moesinger
R C
RC
Efron
G
G
Barbul
A
A
Harrison
M G
MG
D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000285:Administration, Rectal; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002411:Cation Exchange Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003082:Colectomy; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012117:Resins, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D002400:Cathartics; D002411:Cation Exchange Resins; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D013012:Sorbitol; C003321:polystyrene sulfonic acid