EFFECTS OF CARBICARB(R) AND SODIUM-BICARBONATE ON HYPOXIC LACTIC-ACIDOSIS IN NEWBORN PIGS

Background: Use of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) may result in intracell ular acidosis due to the generation of CO2, Carbicarb, has been report ed to be superior to sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) because of lesser gen eration of CO2. The present study was designed to investigate whether Carbicarb or NaHCO3 is superior to normal saline in the treatment of h ypoxic lactic acidosis. Methods: Hypoxia was induced by ventilation wi th 8% O-2 in 30 piglets with fixed ventilation, When the pH fell to < 7.2, hypoxia was reversed by placing the animals in 21% O-2 (experimen t 1) or 100% O-2 (experiment 2) and either saline, Carbicarb or NaHCO3 were given, Data were collected for 120 minutes after therapy. Result s: In both experiment 1 (severe acidosis, pH less than or equal to 7.1 ) and 2 (moderate acidosis, pH less than or equal to 7.2) use of Carbi carb and NaHCO3 increased the arterial carbon dioxide tension (pCO(2)) significantly (p < 0.05), With moderate acidosis: 1) use of alkaliniz ing agents compared to saline resulted in an initial improvement in ar terial pH at 1 minute, but thereafter, the differences were not statis tically significant; and 2) there were no differences in hemodynamic v ariables and plasma lactic acid concentration between the three groups . Conclusions: The data demonstrate that 1) both Carbicarb and NaHCO3 significantly increase arterial pCO(2); and 2) use of either alkaliniz ing agent in moderate acidosis does not alter the course of acidosis.