Electrolytes
Adult (NICE)
- sodium requirement 1mmol/kg/day
- potassium requirement 1mmol/kg/day
- chloride requirement 1mmol/kg/day
- glucose 50-100g/day (strictly speaking glucose is NOT an electrolyte)
Most hospital guidelines in New Zealand state that the maximum rate of potassium infusion is 10mmol/hr
In routine practice, potassium infusion should generally not exceed 20mEq/hr (20mmol/hr)
Normal saline, and the other common crystalloids, are made up with sodium chloride and the daily requirement for these ions will be covered by maintenance with crystalloid (even D4/5NS1/5 contains enough).
| Crystalloid | Sodium per 1L | Chloride per 1L | Glucose per 1L |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS | 154mmol | 154mmol | - |
| Hartmann’s | 131mmol | 111mmol | - |
| D4/5NS1/5 | 31mmol | 31mmol | 222mmol = 40g |