To the Editor

I read with interest the report entitled ‘What Harm Can There Be In Giving A Little Potassium?’ in the APSF Newsletter, Vol. 8, No.2, p. 20. 1 agree with the recommendation of Drs. Gaba and Howard about attaching the potassium-containing solution as close to the patient as possible on the main intravenous line and agree that the use of a mechanical delivery device would not necessarily prevent a mishap similar to the one described. However, use of main intravenous lines incorporating non-return valves would definitely prevent such a problem from occurring. We routinely employ such I.V. lines in our hospital and I believe they are generally widely used.

Brendan Garry, M.D. Staff Anesthesiologist

New England Medical Center Boston, MA