Sodium acetate infusion in critically ill trauma patients for hyperchloremic acidosis

Abstract

IntroductionSodium acetate has been shown to cause hemodynamic instability when used as a hemodialysis buffer. The pattern of hemodynamic response to injury will be evaluated between those who received sodium acetate and those who did not.The primary purpose of the study is to analyze the effect of sodium acetate on hemodynamic parameters. Secondarily we looked at the effects on prevention and treatment of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis.MethodsThe study arm was comprised of patients who had received sodium acetate infusions in place of normal saline between March 2005 and December 2009. A control arm was created based on matching three pre-treatment variables: injury severity score (ISS), pH (+/- 0.03) and base deficit (+/- 3). A retrospective chart review was performed for patients in both arms. Blood pressure, arterial blood gas data and chemistry values were recorded for the time points of -6, -1, 0, 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours from start of sodium acetate infusion. Patients were excluded based on the following criteria: patients who were given sodium bicarbonate within 48 hours of starting sodium acetate, those given sodium acetate as a bolus, non-trauma patients, burn patients, patients who expired within 24 hours of arrival to the ICU, patients diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and patients whose medical record could not be obtained.ResultsA total of 78 patients were included in the study, 39 in the study arm and 39 in the control arm. There were no statistically significant drops in blood pressure within either group. The median pH between the two groups at the start of infusion was equal. Both groups trended towards normal pH with the study arm improving faster than the control arm. The median serum bicarbonate at start of sodium acetate infusion was 19 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L at time zero for the study and control arms respectively with both trending upward during the study period. Chloride trended up initially in both groups but the study arm began to correct sooner at 24 hours compared to 48 hours for the control arm.ConclusionWe analyzed the use of sodium acetate as an alternative to normal saline or lactated ringers during resuscitation of critically ill trauma patients at a single center. Our data shows that the hemodynamic profile remained favorable, without evidence of instability at any point during the study period. Normalization of hyperchloremia and metabolic acidosis occurred faster in the patients who received sodium acetate.

Sodium Acetate as a Replacement for Sodium Bicarbonate in Medical Toxicology: a Review

“…Sodium Acetate Use in Acid-Base Disorders Several lines of evidence converge to suggest comparable efficacy of sodium acetate with that of sodium bicarbonate as a buffer in the correction of severe acidemia associated with metabolic acidosis [11][12][13]. First, comparison of acetate and bicarbonate infusions demonstrated equal efficacy in the correction of acidemia of uremic acidosis without adverse hemodynamic instability [11].…”

“…Second, sodium acetate is also effective in the correction of acidemia secondary to diarrhea [12]. Finally, sodium acetate has been used in the treatment of hyperchloremic acidosis in trauma patients [13]. None of these studies link infusion of sodium acetate with hypotension or other adverse events historically associated with sodium acetate dialysate.…”

“…There are no reports of sodium acetate maintenance infusion causing severe adverse events, but its use in hemodialysis suggests that hypotension is a potential complication [13,14,30]. Sodium acetate infusion decreases systemic vascular resistance, while TCA cardiotoxicity decreases myocardial contractility.…”

Solubility of Sodium Acetate in Ternary Mixtures of Methanol, 1-Propanol, Acetonitrile, and Water at 298.2 K

“…In medical applications, it is used as a fluid bath for hemodialysis 5 and as a source of sodium for addition to large volume intravenous fluids to prevent or correct hyponatremic patients.…”

“…3 In petroleum and textile industries, 4 it is used as a buffering agent and for the neutralization of sulfuric acid waste streams, respectively. In medical applications, it is used as a fluid bath for hemodialysis 5 and as a source of sodium for addition to large volume intravenous fluids to prevent or correct hyponatremic patients. 6 The rubber industries, tanning, concrete, and heating pads are other application areas involving sodium acetate (or other features).…”