[Severe hyperkalemia in combination with gastroenteritis in previously colectomized patient]. / Svaer hyperkaliaemi ved gastroenteritis hos kolektomeret patient.

Severe hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition that causes primarily cardiac and muscular dysfunction with potentially fatal consequences. This case report describes a case of severe hyperkalemia (9,1 mmol/l) caused by acute prerenal failure due to dehydration. The severe dehydration was caused by a combination of reduced fluid intake due to gastroenteritis and a hampered capacity for intestinal fluid absorption, due to previous colectomy. The patient developed classic signs of hyperkalemia with electrocardiogram changes and muscular dysfunction.

[Acute esophageal necrosis]. / Akut øsofageal nekrose.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), necrotizing esophagitis or "black esophagus", is a rare condition with less than 100 reported cases in the world literature. The condition arises due to necrosis of the esophageal mucosa leading to macroscopically black tissue. The condition is associated with a relatively poor prognosis with an overall mortality due to comorbidity of 32-36%. This case report describes a patient with AEN in the full length of the esophagus secondary to ischaemia due to bleeding and hypoperfusion. The patient died after 48 hours due to multi-organ failure.