No abstract

A 17-year-old youth was admitted with a serum potassium concentration of 1.8 mmol/l after taking an overdose of pseudoephedrine and choline theophyllinate. Apart from tachycardia, tachypnoea and ankle clonus, examination was normal as was the initial electrocardiograph. The hypokalaemia resolved, but there was an overall positive potassium balance of only 13 mmol. This suggests that the sympathomimetics provoked a compartmental shift of potassium perhaps indirectly by inducing hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, as well as directly. Other factors known to affect body potassium distribution were excluded. The fact that features commonly associated with hypokalaemia could not be demonstrated may be explained by a normal body potassium content. Severe hypokalaemia caused by a compartmental shift occurs with large doses of sympathomimetics as well as in periodic paralysis.

The history, clinical presentation and pathological findings of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome are presented. An analysis is made of patients with this syndrome admitted to an intensive care ward over a six year period. Results and management are discussed.

The resltlts oj a prospecti,'e study oj 3,600 Anaesthetics jor electrocom'ulsi've therapy is presented. A1inimal differences were observed between thiopentone and methohexitone. Propanidid and Diazepam were jound to be unsuitable induction agents. Other jindings inclllded minimal scrum potassium cle,)ation and a lmc incidence oj post treatment muscle paills. The place oj the sillf!,le-handed operator and the place oj ltJl1ll0dijied electroconvulsive therapy is questioned as being unacceptable practice.