Alkali Therapies
OVERVIEW
- sodium bicarbonate
- THAM
- Carbicarb
- Dichloroacetate
- Dialysis / hemofiltration
SODIUM BICARBONATE
- 8.4% and 4.2% solution
- hyperosmolar
- generates high CO2
- used to treat a metabolic acidosis if pH < 7.1 (controversial)
- improves vasopressor responsiveness
- may have role in decreasing contrast nephropathy
- adverse effects: paradoxical acidosis in the presence of low output, hypokalaemia, phlebitis
THAM
- Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane (THAM)
- commercially available weak alkali that buffers H+ ions
- buffering not associated with a CO2 rise
- adverse effects: hyperkalaemia, hypoglycaemia, extravasation necrosis, hepatic dysfunction
CARBICARB
- equimolar combination of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate
- generates a smaller rise in CO2 than sodium bicarbonate
- more consistently increases intracellular pH
- inconsistent effects on haemodynamics
- not commonly used clinically
DICHLOROACETATE
- works by stimulating the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex which regulates the entry of pyruvate into tricarboxylic acid cycle
- increases pH
- decreases lactate
- RCTs have found no benefit in haemodynamics or patient outcome
DIALYSIS/HAEMOFILTRATION
- peritoneal dialysis effective at removing lactate
- bicarbonate-buffered haemofiltration is ineffective
- avoid lactate based buffers in those who with lactate acidosis or liver disease
References and Links
CCC Pharmacology Series
Respiratory: Bosentan, Delivery of B2 Agonists in Intubated Patients, Nitric Oxide, Oxygen, Prostacyclin, Sildenafil
Cardiovascular: Adenosine, Adrenaline (Epinephrine), Amiodarone, Classification of Vasoactive drugs, Clevidipine, Digoxin, Dobutamine, Dopamine, Levosimendan, Levosimendan vs Dobutamine, Milrinone, Noradrenaline, Phenylephrine, Sodium Nitroprusside (SNiP), Sotalol, Vasopressin
Neurological: Dexmedetomidine, Ketamine, Levetiracetam, Lignocaine, Lithium, Midazolam, Physostigmine, Propofol, Sodium Valproate, Sugammadex, Thiopentone
Endocrine: Desmopressin, Glucagon Therapy, Medications and Thyroid Function
Gastrointestinal: Octreotide, Omeprazole, Ranitidine, Sucralfate, Terlipressin
Genitourinary: Furosemide, Mannitol, Spironolactone
Haematological: Activated Protein C, Alteplase, Aprotinin, Aspirin, Clopidogrel, Dipyridamole, DOACs, Factor VIIa, Heparin, LMW Heparin, Protamine, Prothrombinex, Tenecteplase, Tirofiban, Tranexamic Acid (TXA), Warfarin
Antimicrobial: Antimicrobial Dosing and Kill Characteristics, Benzylpenicillin, Ceftriaxone, Ciprofloxacin, Co-trimoxazole / Bactrim, Fluconazole, Gentamicin, Imipenem, Linezolid, Meropenem, Piperacillin-Tazobactam, Rifampicin, Vancomycin
Analgesic: Alfentanil, Celecoxib, COX II Inhibitors, Ketamine, Lignocaine, Morphine, NSAIDs, Opioids, Paracetamol (Acetaminophen), Paracetamol in Critical Illness, Tramadol
Miscellaneous: Activated Charcoal, Adverse Drug Reactions, Alkali Therapies, Drug Absorption in Critical Illness, Drug Infusion Doses, Epidural Complications, Epidural vs Opioids in Rib Fractures, Magnesium, Methylene Blue, Pharmacology and Critical Illness, PK and Obesity, PK and ECMO, Sodium Bicarbonate Use, Statins in Critical Illness, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Weights in Pharmacology
Toxicology: Digibind, Flumazenil, Glucagon Therapy, Intralipid, N-Acetylcysteine, Naloxone, Propofol Infusion Syndrome
Journal articles
- Gehlbach BK, Schmidt GA. Bench-to-bedside review: treating acid-base abnormalities in the intensive care unit – the role of buffers. Crit Care. 2004 Aug;8(4):259-65. PMC522834.
- Hoste EA, Colpaert K, Vanholder RC, Lameire NH, De Waele JJ, Blot SI, Colardyn FA. Sodium bicarbonate versus THAM in ICU patients with mild metabolic acidosis. J Nephrol. 2005 May-Jun;18(3):303-7. PMID: 16013019.
- Kraut JA, Kurtz I. Use of base in the treatment of severe acidemic states. Am J Kidney Dis. 2001 Oct;38(4):703-27. PubMed PMID: 11576874.
- Morgan TJ. The meaning of acid-base abnormalities in the intensive care unit: part III — effects of fluid administration. Crit Care. 2005 Apr;9(2):204-11. PMC1175908.
- Naka T, Bellomo R. Bench-to-bedside review: treating acid-base abnormalities in the intensive care unit–the role of renal replacement therapy. Crit Care. 2004 Apr;8(2):108-14. PMC420038.
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
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