Final answer:
Hypokalemia can occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, or alkalosis. NGT suctioning can cause a loss of potassium, leading to hypokalemia. It can also result in hypochloremia alkalosis due to the loss of gastric juice.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypokalemia is an abnormally low potassium blood level. It can occur due to either an absolute reduction of potassium in the body or a relative reduction in the blood due to redistribution. In the case of NGT (nasogastric tube) suctioning, hypokalemia can occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, or alkalosis, which can lead to a loss of potassium. When gastric juice is lost through suctioning, there is also a loss of chloride, which can result in hypochloremia alkalosis.