Discussion
We compared 2 similar groups of ICU patients
admitted who had normal serum levels of potassium
and creatinine at the time of admission. The patients
had a variety of medical and surgical diagnoses.
Compared with the control group, patients who
were treated empirically with a potassium supplement
added to maintenance intravenous fluid at a
rate of 72 to 144 mmol/d received significantly fewer
potassium boluses throughout their ICU stay. This
difference between the 2 groups was true for all
diagnostic categories.
Receiving fewer potassium