Phosphate addition to glucose solutions- effect on hypophosphataemia and risk of infusionthrombophlebitis

The object of this study was to show (A) whether the transient fall in plasma phosphate during carbohydrate infusions could be prevented by adding 10 mmol phosphorus to 1 litre of 10% glucose solution, (B) whether this unphysiologically high concentration would change the vein damaging properties of the acid sugar solution, when the phosphorus was added as a phosphate buffer. Study A comprised 16 patients undergoing colonic surgery. On the second postoperative day the patients received 1 litre 10% glucose, half of the solutions were added 10 mmol phosphate buffer. Plasma phosphate dropped during the infusion in all the patients in the unsubstituted group, whereas there was no fall in the phosphate substituted group. The difference between the two groups was significant. Study B comprised 23 rabbits. Sequential analysis demonstrated that the phosphate addition did not change the vein damaging properties of a 10% glucose solution.