Effect of sodium bicarbonate on lactic acidosis in dogs with hemorrhagic shock

Several recent studies evaluated alkali therapy for lactic acidosis (LA). We studied the effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) on LA due to hemorrhagic shock in dogs. After inducing hemorrhagic shock in twelve mongrel dogs, we divided them into two groups: the first group was treated with 7% NaHCO3 and the second with 4.9% sodium chloride (NaCl). We measured pyruvate, lactate, acetoacetate (AcAc) and 3-hydroxybutyrate (3OHBA) while monitoring hemodynamics and blood gases, and calculated pyruvate/lactate and AcAc/3OHBA ratios. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in hemodynamic parameters, except for stroke volume index, and oxygen consumption throughout this experiment. Arterial pH and base excess increased significantly in the NaHCO3 group. The increases of pyruvate and lactate were significantly greater in the NaHCO3 group than in the NaCl group, but the other metabolic data were not significantly different. We did not find that NaHCO3 had greater beneficial effect than NaCl in hemorrhagic shock model, and the use of NaHCO3 for LA due to hemorrhagic shock may not be recommended.