Clinical Physiology: A Comparison between the Changes in the Distribution Volumes of Inulin and [⁵¹Cr]EDTA after Major Surgery

Abstract

Ladegaard-Pedersen, H. J. & Engell, H. C. A Comparison between the Changes in the Distribution Volumes of Inulin and [⁵¹Cr]EDTA after Major Surgery. Scand. J. clin. Lab. Invest. 35, 109–113, 1975.

In 12 patients undergoing major surgery the distribution volumes of inulin (V_I) and [⁵¹Cr]EDTA (V_e) were measured simultaneously by a single injection technique the day before and the day after the operation. Preoperatively VI was correlated to V_e, and both these volumes were correlated to the plasma volume (PV). Postoperatively only the correlation between V_I and PV was found. The changes in V_I and PV were significantly correlated, but there were no correlations between the changes in V_I and V_e or between the changes in these volumes and in the body weight. Inulin seems to be a better tracer than [⁵¹Cr]EDTA, but the lack of correlation between the changes in V_I and V_e and the changes in body weight raises some doubts as to the physiological significance of the measured changes.

Key Words:

• Extracellular fluid volume
• osmolarity
• plasma volume