Life-Threatening Hypokalemic Quadriplegia in a Postoperative Patient.

Acute hypokalemic paralysis is a reversible but potentially lethal clinical condition. We report a case, who developed rapidonset quadriparesis in immediate postoperative period after undergoing right percutaneous nephrolithotomy for bilateral renal stones. On evaluation, she was found to have hypernatremic, hyperchloremic, hypokalemic acidosis. This severe hypokalemia-induced quadriparesis was precipitated by repeated furosemide injections, use of potassium-free fluid as maintenance, intracellular shift due to free water administration in this patient, who had pre-existing distal renal tubular acidosis.