Inter-relation between water, electrolytes, and acid-base disturbances in acute intestinal obstruction

ABSTRACT

The inter-relation between water, electrolytes and acid-base disturbances was studied in 30 patients subjected to elective surgery on the gastrointestinal tract served as a control, 30 patients with early intestinal obstruction and 30 patients with late intestinal obstruction. The alterations in water, electrolytes and acid-base status were not significant in early cases of intestinal obstruction, but were significant in late cases specially when the obstruction was high. Late upper intestinal obstruction cases showed severe losses of water and electrolytes specially potassium, producing metabolic alkalosis compensated by respiratory acidosis. The lower intestinal obstruction cases were associated with metabolic acidosis compensated by respiratory alkalosis and significant loss in water and electrolytes. The existance of hypokalaemia with metabolic acidosis or alkalosis was found