[Changes in blood sugar levels following infusion of lactated Ringer's solution with various concentrations of potassium and glucose].

Lactated Ringer's solution was prepared, in which concentration of potassium was either 10 or 20 mEq.l-1, and that of glucose was 1.4%. Each preparation was infused into 10 patients who underwent surgical operations under general anesthesia. Effects of this fluid therapy on changes in serum potassium and blood sugar were studied comparing with infusion of lactated Ringer's solution in which concentration of potassium was 10 mEq.l-1, and glucose was 0.7%. Both serum potassium and blood sugar levels were maintained within normal ranges with the lactated Ringer's solution containing 20 mEq.l-1 of potassium and 1.4% of glucose. On the other hand, the former tended to decrease and the latter tended to increase with the lactated Ringer's solution containing potassium 10 mEq.l-1 and glucose 1.4%. We consider that the homeostatic effect with the lactated Ringer's solution containing 20 mEq.l-1 of potassium and 1.4% of glucose would be to lower blood glucose level by concomitant intracellular influx of potassium and glucose. Therefore these high potassium lactated Ringer's solutions balanced adequately with glucose are useful for fluid therapy during surgical procedure under general anesthesia.