Survival after high-dose intravenous infusion of irrigating fluids in the mouse.

OBJECTIVES

Fluid absorption is still a potentially fatal complication in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate. We induced experimental overhydration in animals to find out which of three widely used irrigating fluids is most strongly associated with survival.

METHODS

The survival and incidence of voiding was studied in 120 mice after an intravenous infusion of either 225, 250, 275, or 300 mL/kg of glycine 1.5%, mannitol 5%, or sorbitol 2% plus mannitol 1% over 60 minutes.

RESULTS

Only 20% of the animals survived the glycine solution, whereas the overall survival rate after mannitol was 60%. The corresponding figure for sorbitol plus mannitol was 32%. Logistic regression analysis showed that survival was significantly more likely after infusion of mannitol 5% compared with the other irrigating fluids. The likelihood of survival was also higher in the animals in which the infusion induced diuresis and when the smaller volumes of irrigating fluid were given.

CONCLUSIONS

Mannitol 5% offered the best chance of survival.