CHANGES IN THE BODY WATER PARTITION AND EXTRACELLULAR ELECTROLYTES IN SHOCK

Abstract

The present study is an attempt, using the methods available at the present time, to investigate the various changes in the extracellular and intracellular body water, the changes in the electrolytes of the extracellular fluid and the processes of the body in regulating the osmotic pressure of the intracellular and extracellular fluids and an attempt to interpret these changes in the light of presently accepted facts. Recent studies on the pathogenesis and treatment of shock have dealt particularly with the decrease in plasma volume and the methods of restoring this lost volume. These studies satisfactorily demonstrated the nature and the extent of such plasma volume decrease.¹ The hemoconcentration which occurs in shock, as pointed out by Moon and Kennedy,² is a reflection of this decrease in plasma. Information on the phases of body water other than plasma during shock is almost lacking. Moon³ maintained that in traumatic