Indications and Contraindications for the Use of Molar Sodium Lactate

Abstract

The experience with molar sodium lactate has been extended to include 101 patients. Certain indications and relative contraindications to its use have crystallized. Administration of this agent is shown to be a physiologic and effective method for treating patients with severe hyperpotassemia, multiple Stokes-Adams, attacks, and cardiac arrest, particularly that occurring in the operating room complicating cardiac surgery. For many patients in these categories, sodium lactate was life saving even though it was generally given after other more commonly used drugs and methods of therapy had proved ineffective in restoring cardiac rhythm. In the total group of patients untoward effects were few.