Hypopotassemia following open heart surgery by cardio-pulmonary bypass

1. In this study where potassium concentration of perfusate of heart-lung machine was made high and no potassium was given until two hours after by-pass, the fall of plasma potassium level due to heart-lung bypass occurred in two stages, namely one hour of complete bypass and two hours after the end of bypass. 2. Regarding to the decrease of these plasma potassium level, increase of potassium excretion into urine and the movement of potassium from extracellular fluid into cells are presumed to be causes. Their genesis was discussed. 3. To prevent hypopotassemia following bypass, it is recommended to add KCl in the perfusate of heart-lung machine and to give intravenous drip of KCl immediately after bypass.