HEMORRHAGE AND TRANSFUSION AS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF CARDIAC ARREST

Analysis of 157 cases of cardiac arrest led to the conclusion that in 50 of these the sole cause was massive transfusion of hyper-potassemic bank blood. The bank blood rapidly administered to these patients contained an average total of 77.7 mEq. of potassium. In an additional group of 18 of the 157 cases, transfusion contributed to the production of cardiac arrest. Serum potassium concentrations increase progressively in bank blood, and hemorrhage increases the susceptibility of the body to pot