Cardiovascular responses to metabolic acidosis

¹ Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

The performance of the left ventricle was examined in a feline preparation which allowed precise control of aortic pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, and temperature. The arterial pH, Po₂, and Pco₂ were continuously measured with a Jewett flow-through electrode assembly. Reduction of arterial pH from 7.45 to 6.80 by HCl or lactic acid infusion was associated with a minimal reduction or no change of left ventricular contractility as measured by the stroke volume or mean ejection rate for a given left ventricular end-diastolic pressure at a constant aortic pressure and heart rate. No evidence for a diminished positive inotropic response to norepinephrine was found. Simultaneous systemic and pulmonary pressure-flow curves demonstrated that metabolic acidosis caused a reduction of systemic vascular resistance and a concurrent increase of pulmonary vascular resistance.

Key Words: ventricular performance • systemic vascular resistance • pulmonary vascular resistance

Submitted on June 29, 1964

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. M. Forsythe and G. A. Schmidt Sodium Bicarbonate for the Treatment of Lactic Acidosis* Chest, January 1, 2000; 117(1): 260 - 267. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Cooper, K. R. Walley, B. R. Wiggs, and J. A. Russell Bicarbonate Does Not Improve Hemodynamics in Critically III Patients Who Have Lactic Acidosis: A Prospective, Controlled Clinical Study Ann Intern Med, April 1, 1990; 112(7): 492 - 498. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. R. MORRIS, M. B. MURPHY, and A. E. KITABCHI Bicarbonate Therapy in Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis Ann Intern Med, December 1, 1986; 105(6): 836 - 840. [Abstract] [PDF]