ABSTRACT
Objective This study is to explore the clinical experience which intravenous concentrated potassium infusion therapy to correct hypokalemia in postoperation of extracorporeal circulation.Methods the data was analyzed retrospectively on 100 consecutive patients of heart disease in Intensive Care Unit undergwent extracorporeal circulation from 1998 to 2000. A total of 219 times of infusions, with potassium concentration 112 4 to 206 mmol/L ,were administered by the central or peripheral venous route at to the rate 6 7 to 16 8 mmol/l an hour for correcting or preventing hypokalemia.Results The analysis showed that the concentration of blood potassium was safely and effectively increased without fatal arrhythmia by this way; the blood potassium was closely related to the degree of hypokalemia before operation, to the continuous time of extracorporeal circulation ,and to the urine volume in postoperation,etc,but there was no linear correlation between the increment of blood potassium and the dose of infused potassium.Conclusion It can rapidly and effectively and relative safely correct hypokalemia in postoperation of extracorporeal circulation by this way, and it has applied value in clinic .