Total colectomy for colon perforation after kayexalate administration: a case report and literature review of a rare complication

Kayexalate is an ion exchange resin that is commonly used to acutely treat patients with hyperkalemia. Bowel ulceration and necrosis is a rare and uncommonly recognized complication of kayexalate administration. More often, concomitant administration with sorbitol is reported to damage the bowel; however, there are reports of kayexalate administration causing bowel necrosis without sorbitol. We present a case of a critically ill patient who underwent total colectomy for colonic necrosis secondary to oral kayexalate administration that was not recognized until late in the pathologic process. We also review the literature to further investigate this progression.