Renal function during intravenous infusion of urological irrigating fluids in the sheep

Fluid volume kinetics of dilutional hyponatremia; a shock syndrome revisited

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the pathophysiology of shock syndromes can be better understood by comparing central hemodynamics with kinetic data on fluid and electrolyte shifts.

METHODS

We studied the dilutional hyponatremic shock that developed in response to overhydration with electrolyte-free irrigating fluid - the so-called 'transurethral resection syndrome' - by comparing cardiac output, arterial pressures, and volume kinetic parameters in 17 pigs that were administered 150 ml/kg of either 1.5% glycine or 5% mannitol by intravenous infusion over 90 minutes.

RESULTS

Natriuresis appeared to be the key factor promoting hypovolemic hypotension 15-20 minutes after fluid administration ended. Excessive sodium excretion, due to osmotic diuresis caused by the irrigant solutes, was associated with high estimates of the elimination rate constant (k10) and low or negative estimates of the rate constant describing re-distribution of fluid to the plasma after translocation to the interstitium (k21). These characteristics indicated a high urinary flow rate and the development of peripheral edema at the expense of plasma volume and were correlated with reductions in cardiac output. The same general effects of natriuresis were observed for both irrigating solutions, although the volume of infused 1.5% glycine had a higher tendency to enter the intracellular fluid space.

CONCLUSION

Comparisons between hemodynamics and fluid turnover showed a likely sequence of events that led to hypovolemia despite intravenous administration of large amounts of fluid.

Volume kinetics of glucose solutions given by intravenous infusion

Glucose solutions given by intravenous (i.v.) infusion exert volume effects that are governed by the amount of fluid administered and also by the metabolism of the glucose. To understand better how the body handles glucose solutions, two volume kinetic models were developed in which consideration was given to the osmotic fluid shifts that accompany the metabolism of glucose. These models were fitted to data obtained when 21 volunteers who were given approximately 1 litre of glucose 2.5 or 5% or Ringer's solution (control) over 45 min. The maximum haemodilution was similar for all three fluids, but it decreased more rapidly when glucose had been infused. The volume of distribution for the infused glucose molecules was larger (approximately 12 litres) than for the infused fluid, which amounted to (mean (SEM)) 3.7 (0.3) (glucose 2.5%), 2.8 (0.2) (glucose 5%), and 2.5 (0.2) litres (Ringer). Fluid accumulated in a remote (cellular) body fluid space when glucose had been administered (approximately 0.2 and 0.4 litres, respectively), while expansion of an intermediate fluid space (7.1 (1.3) litres) could be demonstrated in 33% of the Ringer experiments. In conclusion, kinetic models were developed which consider the relationship between the glucose metabolism and the disposition of intravenous fluid. One of them, in which infused fluid expands two instead of three body fluid spaces, was successfully fitted to data on blood glucose and blood haemoglobin obtained during infusions of 2.5 and 5% glucose.

Natriuresis and “dilutional” hyponatremia after infusion of glycine 1.5%

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To challenge the view that the hyponatremia resulting from absorption of glycine 1.5% is attributed to the expansion of the extracellular fluid (ECF) volume, and that the change in serum sodium is therefore widely used to calculate the amount of irrigant absorbed.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of six studies.

SETTING

University-affiliated hospital.

MEASUREMENTS

Approximately 1.2 L of glycine 1.5% was infused in 23 volunteers (two studies), 1 L in 10 prostatectomy patients, 2.4 L in 6 sheep, 4 L in 6 other sheep, and 3 L in 9 piglets. The distribution of the irrigant water was estimated from the difference between the measured and the expected serum sodium levels, taking into account the urinary losses of sodium and water.

MAIN RESULTS

Between 30% and 50% of the irrigant volume had diffused into the cells 30 minutes after the infusion, and only between 0% and 50% of the fluid remained in the ECF. One hour later, natriuresis accounted for 100% of the residual hyponatremia in the small-volume experiments, and it accounted for approximately 50% in the large-volume experiments. The change in serum sodium could not be used to quantify the small infusion volumes, but the large ones could be quantified fairly accurately if assessed at the very end of the infusion.

CONCLUSIONS

Diffusion of water into the cells and natriuresis reduced and prolonged the hyponatremia associated with infusions of glycine 1.5%. This finding makes IV fluid with sodium added a more rational alternative than furosemide in the treatment of fluid overload with this irrigating solution.

High-dose intravenous infusion of irrigating fluids containing glycine and mannitol in the pig

BACKGROUND

Large-scale absorption of electrolyte-free irrigating fluid during endoscopic surgery may result in a "transurethral resection syndrome." The severity of the syndrome can probably be modified by using mannitol 5% instead of the most widely used glycine 1.5%.

METHODS

Seventeen pigs with a mean body weight of 22 (range 19-26) kg received an intravenous infusion of 100 mL kg(-1) h(-1) of either glycine 1.5% or mannitol 5% over 90 min. Central hemodynamics, whole-body and brain oxygen consumption, intracranial pressure, blood hemoglobin, and the sodium concentrations in serum and urine were monitored for 120 min. Selected measurements were made on 6 other pigs given mannitol 3% and in 2 controls not given any fluid. Morphological examinations of the hearts were conducted.

RESULTS

Both glycine 1.5% and mannitol 5% transiently increased cardiac output, the aortic blood flow rate, and arterial pressures, but all of these parameters fell to below baseline after the infusions were ended. The intracranial pressure was lower (P < 0.05) and the oxygen consumption in the brain decreased (P < 0.001) during the infusion of mannitol 5%. Glycine 1.5% expanded the intracellular volume more than mannitol did (P < 0.002). Signs of myocardial damage were graded glycine 1.5% > mannitol 5% > mannitol 3%.

CONCLUSIONS

Massive infusion of glycine 1.5% and mannitol 5% left the pigs in a hypokinetic hypotensive state. Glycine 1.5% increased the intracranial pressure and injured the myocardium more than mannitol 5%, which then seems to be a more appropriate irrigating fluid to use during endoscopic surgery.

Trapping of electrolytes during fluid absorption in transurethral resection of the prostate

Absorption of irrigating fluid into the blood during transurethral resection of the prostate is associated with diffusion of sodium ions from the interstitial fluid space into the plasma. Some of this sodium is "trapped" and removed from the body in connection with bleeding and excretion of urine. The magnitude of this sodium loss was calculated over 10-min periods throughout 20 operations during which absorption of glycine solution occurred. The amount of trapped sodium increased with the amount of blood lost, a 1000-ml bleed correlating with a loss of 10 mmol of sodium. Two thirds was trapped with the plasma loss and one-third with the osmotic diuresis. This mechanism contributes to the absolute loss of sodium from the body. The total sodium loss, however, accounts for one third of the maximum hyponatraemia and is still dominated by the plasma-derived sodium excreted during the glycine-induced osmotic diuresis.