We report a case of a 45 year-old male patient with a history of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C secondary to illicit drug use. He also suffered from end-stage renal disease with persistent hyperkalemia which was treated with hemodialysis. The patient was admitted for a total right hip arthroplasty as a treatment for severe osteoarthritis. On post operative day four the patient suffered changes in mental status, fever, and decreased saturations and was treated for a presumptive diagnosis of pneumonia. On post operative day nine potassium levels remained elevated and the patient was administered 15 grams of SPS solution orally. One hour later the patient developed poor saturations, was severely hypoxemic, deteriorated, and expired.

Post mortem gross examination revealed severe pulmonary congestion (right lung 1,260 grams; left lung 1,080 grams) with focal consolidations. There was no evidence of emboli and the airways were free of any gastric contents. Additional pertinent gross findings included a remote left ventricular infarct, cardiomegaly (680 grams), and hepatosplenomegaly (liver 2,240 grams; spleen 430 grams).

Histological examination of all lung lobes revealed extensive intraalveolar deposition of purple polygonal to amorphous crystals ranging in measurement from 1 to 60 micrometers (Figure 1). Additionally, there were geographic foci of bacterial bronchopneumonia and diffuse emphysematous changes. Tissue gram stain was positive for gram-positive cocci in chains.

The administration of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) is used extensively for the treatment of hyperkalemia, especially in patients with renal failure 123. Other uses have been reported, however 4567. SPS is an ion-exchange resin that exchanges Na⁺ for K⁺ in the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the colon, and increases the fecal excretion of potassium ions. It can be administered orally or rectally suspended in sorbitol, water, or dextrose. Historically, reports of ischemic colitis and colonic necrosis after rectal administration of SPS in sorbitol solution are abundant in the literature, but rare for the upper gastrointestinal tract 89101112131415161718. Other complications such as thrombocytopenia 19 and rectal stenosis 20 have been reported. Administration of SPS suspended in dextrose or water has been suggested to avoid sorbitol related complications; however, recent reports have shown sorbitol-free SPS enemas to cause similar colonic catastrophes 21.

SPS aspiration is a potential complication of oral administration, especially in debilitated patients 2223. One study reports an incidence of intestinal necrosis in 1.8% of post operative patients 13. The aspiration of SPS was first described by Oi 24 in 1978 in a post term hyperkalemic female infant with meconium aspiration. After a second oral administration the infant became cyanotic, bradycardic, apneic, and expired 24. The microscopic appearance of the intraalveolar material was then compared to a solution of 25% SPS which yielded similar histological features 24. In an animal model, Haupt et al 25 demonstrated that the inflammatory reaction following SPS aspiration is not solely attributed to concomitant aspiration of gastric contents.

The purpose of this report is to document a rare, often undiagnosed, and fulminant cause of death among patients with renal failure under the administration of potassium lowering agents. The particular appearance of SPS on histological sections should highlight it as a possible cause of aspiration pneumonia. In our patient, SPS aspiration superimposed on an already compromised pulmonary function was the immediate cause of death. Both methods of administration of the cation exchange resin have been proven effective, but rectal administration may prove beneficial in avoiding aspiration pneumonitis in chronically ill and debilitated patients.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.