Accuracy of intramucosal pH calculated from arterial bicarbonate and the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation: assessment using simulated ischemia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of intramucosal pH (pHi) calculated using arterial bicarbonate instead of mucosal capillary bicarbonate in the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.


METHODS
Simulation of progressive ischemia in mucosal capillary blood.


METHODS
University research laboratory.


METHODS
Normal human blood diluted with plasma.


METHODS
Three venous blood specimens were heparinized and diluted to a mean hemoglobin concentration of 5.0 (+/-0.9) g/dL by addition of plasma (2:1, vol:vol). Mucosal capillary aerobic flow stagnation was simulated by multiple exposures of each cooled specimen to a gas mixture containing 90% nitrogen and 10% CO2. When PCO2 measured at 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees F) was approximately 120 torr (16 kPa), the assigned anaerobic threshold, subsequent anaerobic flow stagnation was simulated by mixing the hypercapnic specimens in sealed syringes with five to six successive small aliquots (<100 microL) of lactic acid (10 g/L).


RESULTS
The relationship between Pco2 and pH in the specimens was compared with the relationship between the same PCO2 values and pHi calculated by substituting bicarbonate concentrations of 22 and 26 mmol/L in the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. As PCO2 rose from 50 torr (8 kPa), conventionally calculated pHi increasingly underestimated simulated mucosal capillary pH, with bias >0.1 pH unit at the simulated anaerobic threshold of 120 torr (16 kPa). As PCO2 rose further the values converged, becoming equivalent at PCO2 approximately 150 torr (20 kPa). From PCO2 > or =200 torr (26.7 kPa), conventional pHi progressively overestimated simulated mucosal pH. The difference was >0.3 pH units at PCO2 = 250 torr (33.3 kPa).


CONCLUSIONS
In the mucosal PCO2 range usually encountered clinically, the arterial bicarbonate substitution causes underestimation of mucosal capillary pH. With moderate mucosal capillary lactic acidosis the error becomes small, and in severe regional ischemia there is significant overestimation of mucosal capillary pH.
Morgan
T J
TJ
Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland, Australia. morgant@health.qld.gov.au
Venkatesh
B
B
Endre
Z H
ZH
D015308:Anaerobic Threshold; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002021:Buffers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008833:Microcirculation; D008954:Models, Biological; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D001639:Bicarbonates; D002021:Buffers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid