PLASMA POTASSIUM CONTENT OF CARDIAC BLOOD AT DEATH

Abstract

In pathological states such as intestinal obstruction, intestinal fistulae, hemorrhage and shock due to trauma the avg. conc. of K in cardiac blood at death was 0.0109 M in 14 cats, and 0.0152 M in 4 dogs poisoned with isotonic KCl. The plasma K of cardiac blood at death in 13 different pathological conditions in man averaged 0.0076 M. This figure contrasted with a conc. of 0.0044 M in the venous blood of 60 healthy donors. Cardiac arrest was apparently associated with different concs. of K, not only for different spp. but also for different individuals within the spp. Hence figures for one sp. might not apply to another. In particular no such conc. as 0.016 M K in cardiac blood of man was found.