Effect of changes in ionized calcium concentration in arterial blood and metabolic acidosis on the arterial partial pressure of oxygen in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of metabolic acidosis and changes in ionized calcium (Ca2+) concentration on PaO2 in dogs.


METHODS
33 anesthetized dogs receiving assisted ventilation.


METHODS
Normal acid-base status was maintained in 8 dogs (group I), and metabolic acidosis was induced in 25 dogs. For 60 minutes, normocalcemia was maintained in group I and 10 other dogs (group II), and 10 dogs were allowed to become hypercalcemic (group III); hypocalcemia was then induced in groups I and II. Groups II and IV (5 dogs) were treated identically except that, at 90 minutes, the latter underwent parathyroidectomy. At intervals, variables including PaO2, Ca2+ concentration, arterial blood pH (pHa), and systolic blood pressure were assessed.


RESULTS
In group II, PaO2 increased from baseline value (96 +/- 2 mm Hg) within 10 minutes (pHa, 7.33 +/- 0.001); at 60 minutes (pHa, 7.21 +/- 0.02), PaO2 was 108 +/- 2 mm Hg. For the same pHa decrease, the PaO2 increase was less in group III. In group I, hypocalcemia caused PaO2 to progressively increase (from 95 +/- 2 mm Hg to 104 +/- 3 mm Hg), which correlated (r = -0.66) significantly with a decrease in systolic blood pressure (from 156 +/- 9 mm Hg to 118 +/- 10 mm Hg). Parathyroidectomy did not alter PaO2 values.


CONCLUSIONS
Induction of hypocalcemia and metabolic acidosis each increased PaO2 in anesthetized dogs, whereas acidosis-induced hypercalcemia attenuated that increase. In anesthetized dogs, development of metabolic acidosis or hypocalcemia is likely to affect ventilatory control.
Lopez
Ignacio
I
Departmento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra Madrid-Cadiz, km 396, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Felsenfeld
Arnold J
AJ
Estepa
Jose C
JC
Rodriguez
Mariano
M
Aguilera-Tejero
Escolastico
E
D000138:Acidosis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D013997:Time Factors
D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium