title: Hydrochloric acid in the correction of metabolic alkalosis.
abstract: Intravenous infusion of hydrochloric acid was used as a safe, effective, and quantitative method for correction of metabolic alkalosis in two patients. The first shows the risks of intravenously administered ammonium chloride, the currently available alternative to hydrochloric acid therapy. The second shows the efficacy of intravenously administered hydrochloric acid. While breathing spontaneously throughout the period of severe alkalosis, this patient showed compensatory hypoventilation with conspicuous increase in arterial carbon dioxide pressure. Normal spontaneous ventilation returned with correction of the metabolic alkalosis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000471:Alkalosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000009:adverse effects; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002712:Chlorides / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002712:Chlorides; D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid