[Carbohydrate administration and electrolyte balance in patients under intensive care]

A twenty-four percent solution of carbohydrates 0.2 g/kg/h consisting of fructose, xylit and glucose in a 2:1:1 ratio and an aminoacid solution 0.03 g/kg/h were given to 13 patients of the internal medicine intensive care unit. There was an unimportant loss of carbohydrates, only, with but few exceptions, i.e. a loss of 11% in 3 patients. The results demonstrate that the carbohydrates of the combined solution become utilized independent of each other. The balance of water, sodium, potassium and magnesium were not only negative but also positive. The elimination of calcium was between 1-19 mval/24 h, of phosphate between 0.6-8.7 mval/24 h.