** 1. for every surgery, one has to undergo anesthesia, and heart, in particular, relies on potassium for critical functions and also transmission of chemical messages in muscle and nerve fibers also requires potassium and because anesthetic medications independently alter the functions of potassium on heart, potassium balance must be maintained to ensure safe anesthesia. 2. Low potassium levels make it harder for the heart to regulate its electrical activity, so check with your laboratory or with general physician regarding any cause or values of low potassium [hypokalemia] like: poor dietary intake, kidney and gastrointestinal disease with vomiting and diarrhea) and drugs, especially diuretics.