REDISTRIBUTION OF POTASSIUM, SODIUM AND WATER IN BURNS AND TRAUMA, AND ITS RELATION TO THE PHENOMENA OF SHOCK

Abstract

The changes in Na, K and water that occur in mouse tissue after injury by tourniquet or burn are presented. Tissues injured by tourniquet show a gain in extracellular fluid and Na and a loss in K approx. equal to the Na gain. Burn injuries produced at 75 [degree]C yielded results similar to those of tourniquet injury, while those produced at 94-99[degree]C exhibited no local edema but analysis proved that K had been lost and an equivalent amt. of Na gained. Uninjured tissues displayed a Na loss and K gain and indicated considerable intracellular swelling which, together with the local fluid loss at the site of injury, accounted for the marked reduction in extracellular fluid vol. Death in shock could be correlated with K lost in the injured area and not with local fluid loss. These expts. indicate that therapy should be aimed at restoration of the extracellular fluid volume and excretion of the K released from the injured tissue. This may be accomplished by the admn. of isotonic Na solns. equal in vol. to a minimum of 10-15% of body wt.