What is the lowest potassium level that i can safely going into surgery with? what are risks assoc w/ low potassium under general anaesthesia?

10 percent : Good to know the cause. Assuming that it is elective surgery 10 percent deviation from normal range is acceptable. If it is chronic condition risks are slightly lower, but still can lead to cardiac conduction abnormalities. Correction can be done by anesthesiologist. If condition is chronic or acute it is better to address before the surgery.

Normal: Normal potassium depending on lab is 3.5-5.0. As a general rule unless it is an emergency i would not generally operate if potassium out of normal range. Some of the anesthetic medications can alter potassium rapidly. However these decisions are made on a case by case basis.

Anesthesia: My cut off is 2.5. A better question is why is ur potassium low. The risk is a cardiac event.

2.8 : This depends based on the different labs and hospitals, but the number I have quoted is not unusual. The issue is not the risks of anesthesia with a low potassium (which include cardiac, renal, and blood pressure) but that the level is so far out of normal something else must be going on. Only if the case was an emergency would i proceed outside this number.

3.5: usually around 3.5 is the cut off; most risks with low potassium are associated with the heart rhythm