THE SURFACE AREA OF THE BODY

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
NOT MANY years ago a book on medical emergencies suggested for the treatment of diabetic coma the reestablishment of normal circulation by the intravenous administration of a saline-lactate solution. This solution was described in a footnote as being made from 400 cc. of "isotonic saline," 40 cc. of "molar Na lactate," and 560 cc. of distilled water. This mixture was to be administered at the rate of 800 ml. per minute per square meter of body surface. Unfortunately this suggestion assumed that, under emergency conditions, the physician would know exactly what was meant by "isotonic saline," that he would have no trouble in preparing a molar solution of sodium lactate, and that he would be able to calculate the rate at which the injection was to be made. Since the actual area of the body surface is difficult to measure even in the laboratory, a footnote referred the physician to

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: