Question: A 63 year old male with a T4b laryngeal carcinoma is admitted to the hospital for dehydration. Despite severe dysphagia, he was unwilling to undergo feeding tube placement. He Intravenous fluids were administered for rehydration and the patient was stabilized. He failed a repeat swallow study and subsequently agreed to undergo gastrostomy tube placement. Three days after tube feeds were initiated, he became confused and developed new onset atrial fibrillation. Chemistry panel revealed serum potassium of 2.8. What happened? [Answer will be posted with next week's new question]
Answer to last week's question, "Got Milk" (October 17, 2016):
Chylous fistula. Decrease in splanchnic blood flow.