Sodium bicarbonate versus carbicarb in canine myocardial hypercarbic acidosis

The objective of this study was to compare the in vivo effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3) and Carbicarb infusion on regional contractile performance and acid-base status in the setting of hypercarbic acidosis. Animals (N = 9) were anesthetized and paralyzed using sodium pentothal, halothane, and pancuronium bromide, and mechanically ventilated with an air-O 2 mixture so that arterial Po 2 was ≥300 mm Hg. Following beta-adrenergic blockade, alveolar ventilation was gradually reduced over a 50-minute period to increase arterial Pco 2 to 60 to 80 mm Hg. Each of the following solutions was then infused in consecutive order directly into the left anterior descending artery coronary artery for 15 minutes: (1) 8.4% NaHCO 3 at 2 mL/min; (2) 5% sodium chloride at 2 mL/min, equivalent to NaHCO 3 in osmolality; (3) 6.3% Carbicarb at 0.5 mL/min, equivalent to NaHCO 3 in buffer capacity; and (4) 6.3% Carbicarb at 2 mL/min, equivalent to NaHCO 3 in volume. Regional stroke work analog (ultrasonic dimension transducers), interstitial myocardial pH (Khuri electrode), coronary blood flow (doppler flow probe), and hemodynamic/metabolic variables (heart rate, blood pressure, arterial and coronary venous blood gases) were measured at 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes during each infusion and 10 minutes after the infusion was discontinued, ie, at 25 minutes. Animals were allowed to recover for 45 minutes between interventions. Values at each time point were compared with baseline for statistical significance. Small reductions in interstitial myocardial pH ( P < .05) and stroke work ( P > .05) were observed within 1 minute of NaNCO 3 administration. Both parameters increased significantly from baseline levels thereafter, ie, interstitial myocardial pH at 5 minutes and stroke work at 15 minutes. Infusion of Carbicarb invariably was associated with an increase ( P < .05) in interstitial myocardial pH. Stroke work increased ( P < .05) during low-dose Carbicarb administration, but infusion of the higher dose was accompanied by a biphasic response, ie, an increase ( P < .05) from 0 to 5 minutes, followed by a gradual decrease that achieved statistical significance 10 minutes after termination of the infusion. End-diastolic length was inversely proportional to changes in stroke work, and coronary blood flow varied directly with changes in coronary venous Pco 2. Myocardial O 2 consumption decreased ( P < .05) during Carbicarb infusion, but changes during NaHCO 3 did not reach statistical s