Severe Hypokalemia Mimicking Brain Death.

We discuss a case of a 20-year-old female who presented with history of fever, vomiting, and decreased oral intake for 10 days followed by one episode of generalized tonic-clonic seizure and altered sensorium for 5-6 h. On arrival in the emergency room, she had Glasgow Coma Scale 3 (E1V1M1), both pupils fixed and dilated, low blood pressure, low oxygen saturation, and few gasping breaths. She appeared to be brain dead and was assumed to have a very poor prognosis. Investigations revealed severe hypokalemia. She had also suffered acute hypoxic-ischemic injury to the brain. However, she recovered and was discharged about 2 weeks later.