Intravenous infusion of irrigating fluids containing glycine or mannitol with and without ethanol

Irrigating fluids consisting of 5% mannitol, 3% mannitol + 1% ethanol, 2.2% glycine and 1.5% glycine + 1% ethanol in water were given by intravenous infusion to seven healthy volunteers at a constant rate of 50 ml./min. over 20 min. The irrigants containing glycine produced hyperkalemia and usually prickling and burning skin sensations and slight nausea. The severity of the symptoms apparently correlated to the blood ammonia level, which increased significantly after the glycine but not after the mannitol infusions. With 5% mannitol, there was a pronounced transient increase of the blood volume and a prolonged hyponatremia. There were no differences between the irrigants in respect to their effects on blood pressure and urine excretion. Ethanol caused no adverse effects and allowed the fluid supplementation to be followed by expired breath tests.