Adverse influence of mixed acidemia on the biocompatibility of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration with respect to the lungs.

Experimental data indicate that hypercapnic adidosis has anti-inflammatory effects. These anti-inflammatory effects may even be a beneficial property in case of low tidal volume ventilation with consecutive hypercapnic acidosis. It is unclear whether these anti-inflammatory effects predominate in critically ill patients who suffer from multiple pro- and anti-inflammatory insults like extracorporeal organ support (pro-inflammatory), metabolic acidosis (pro- and anti-inflammatory), as well as hypoxia (pro-inflammatory). Eighteen pigs were randomized into three groups, mechanically ventilated and connected to a continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) as pro-inflammatory insult. A reference group with normal acid-base state obtained normoventilation; a normoxemic acidemia group obtained normoxemic, mixed acidemia due to infusion of lactic and hyperchloremic acid and low tidal volume ventilation, and in a hypoxemic acidemia group the mixed acidemia was paralleled by hypoxemia. Lung histology including pulmonary leukocyte invasion, blood gases, blood cell counts, and hemodynamics were examined. The histological examination of the lungs of acidemic pigs showed a suppressed invasion of leukocytes and thinner alveolar walls compared with normoventilated and with hypoxemic pigs. Enhanced congestion and alveolar red blood cells (RBCs) combined with an increase of the pulmonary artery pressure were observed in acidemic pigs in comparison with the reference group. Normoxemic acidemia reduced the pro-inflammatory reaction to the CVVH and mechanical ventilation in the ventilated lung areas in the form of pulmonary leukocyte invasion. However, this did not result in reduced scores for lung injury. Instead, an increased score for criteria which represent lung injury (congestion and alveolar RBCs) was observed in acidemic pigs.

Experimental high-volume hemofiltration with predilutional tris-hydroxymethylaminomethane for correction of low tidal volume ventilation-induced acidosis.

The most common method of controlling acidemia during lung-protective ventilation is CO2 removal with an extracorporeal lung assist (ECLA) system. Another possibility to prevent acidemia is based on intravenous (i.v.) application of tris-hydroxymethyl-aminomethane (3 mol/L, THAM) buffer, which can bind hydrogen protons and which can be removed from the body via renal replacement therapy (RRT). We investigated whether RRT combined with predilutional (prefilter) THAM-application provides an alternative to ECLA for a rescue situation. For this, anesthetized pigs, 40 kg of body weight, six animals per group, underwent 5 h of acidemia (pH 7.19-7.24) induced by acid infusion and permissive hypercapnia (low tidal volume ventilation, PaCO2 80-90 mmHg). Isovolemic, high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) was operated with predilutional THAM-infusion for treatment. To evaluate adverse effects of this approach, we set up further groups: HVHF with postdilutional (post-filter) THAM-application; i.v.-THAM without HVHF; normal pH homeostasis with HVHF. Acid-base parameters, hemodynamics, renal function, and lung morphology were investigated. HVHF with predilutional THAM-infusion of 8 mmol/kg/h allowed fast pH normalization, significant reduction in PaCO2 to 56 mmHg and tolerable hemodynamics. HVHF alone or lower dose i.v. THAM (2 mmol/kg/h) failed to produce a comparable result. A postdilutional THAM infusion reduced hemodynamic tolerability and increased lung edema formation. HVHF in pigs with normal acid-base status resulted in a decreased base excess and urine acidification. In conclusion, predilutional THAM-application and HVHF corrected the acid-base disorder and improved pulmonary hemodynamics. Further studies are necessary to optimize the protocol including the dosage.

Influence of acidaemia and hypoxaemia on CVVH haemocompatibility in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Reduced haemocompatibility and early filter failure during continuous venovenous haemofiltration (CVVH) can be attributed to various aspects from filter engineering to rheological problems. Still, little is known about the impact of acidaemia and hypoxaemia on the haemocompatibility of a CVVH. In a porcine model, we investigated blood and coagulation parameters, filter performance and blockage of filter capillaries to assess the impact of acidaemia and hypoxaemia on haemocompatibility. METHODS: Pigs were assigned to three groups (n = 6). One group received mixed acidaemia (pH 7.2) by acid infusion (0.2 M of lactic acid and 0.2 M HCl diluted in normal saline) and low tidal volume ventilation (6-8 mL/kg(-)(1)), one group underwent an additional hypoxaemia (pH 7.2; PaO(2) < 70 mmHg) and another was treated with normal saline and normoventilation (control group; pH 7.4). To accelerate biocompatibility reactions, CVVH was operated with reinfusion of the filtrate to the venous line for 3 h based on standardized heparinization. RESULTS: Acidaemia led to a contradictory pattern with respect to prothrombin time (prolongation), activated partial thrombin time and activated clotting time (acceleration). In comparison to normal pH homeostasis, acidaemia led to increasing activation markers such as terminal complement complex marker sC5b-9, thrombin-anti-thrombin complexes (TAT) and D-dimers. Additional hypoxaemia intensified activation with regard to TAT and complement complex marker sC5b-9. Platelet counts suffered from acidaemia and a tendency for higher rates of blocked hollow fibres was found. CONCLUSION: Acidaemia led to deteriorated haemocompatibility reactions to a CVVH circuit. The coagulation pattern developed towards complications for the coagulatory state.

Six percent hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 impacts differently on blood glucose than 4% gelatine in a swine model of mixed acidaemia.

BACKGROUND: Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane can be used as a buffer in case of restricted ventilation, but hypoglycaemia is one adverse effect. The influence of a starch-based colloid [6% hydroxyethyl starch 130 kDa/0.4 (HES130)] vs. a gelatine-based colloid (4% polysuccinated gelatine) on blood glucose was investigated in a swine model of mixed acidaemia. METHODS: Continuous colloid infusion was done in anaesthetized pigs with exogenously induced mixed acidaemia, which was maintained for 3 h. Pigs (approximately 40 kg, n = 6 in each group) were randomized to HES130 or 4% gelatine infusion (4 ml kg h(-1)). Infusion of an acid solution and low tidal volume ventilation induced mixed acidaemia. Treatment of mixed acidaemia with tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane buffer, which is known to induce hypoglycaemia, prolonged anaesthesia, and volume support challenged the control of blood glucose. Hypoglycaemia was treated by individually dosed infusion of 5% glucose in sterile water. RESULTS: Bolus infusion of HES130 led to a moderate peak in blood glucose in four pigs. Four pigs in the 4% gelatine group and three in the HES130 group needed glucose infusion to prevent a drop in blood glucose levels below the set threshold (4 mmol l(-1)). The total amount of the glucose infusion was significantly lower in the HES130 group compared with the 4% gelatine group (100 vs. 295 ml per pig, median, P < 0.05). Generally, the HES130 pigs required glucose at later time points during anaesthesia. The first HES130 pig needed 5% glucose 2 h later than the first 4% gelatine pig to prevent a drop of blood glucose below 4 mmol l(-1). CONCLUSION: Volume support impacted specifically on blood glucose in this porcine model. Thus, an additional control of blood glucose seems recommendable whenever a change in the volume support occurs.

In a porcine model of mixed acidemia HES 130/0.4 may support more stable hemodynamics during CVVH when compared to gelatine.

PURPOSE: Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) and mixed acidemia often occur simultaneously in critically ill patients. In a previous study in non-acidemic pigs we found that colloids and CVVH interact specifically with respect to hemodynamic stability, with favorable effects for 6% HES 130/0.4 versus 4% gelatine (GEL) infusion. In a porcine model, we investigated whether these colloid-type associated differences are still dominant under acidemic conditions. METHODS: We utilized 5 groups, a non-acidemic reference group receiving HES130 and CVVH; two acidemic groups receiving HES130 infusion (one with and one without CVVH); and two acidemic groups receiving GEL infusion (one with and one without CVVH). Mixed acidemia (pH ~7.20) was established by low tidal volume ventilation and acid infusion. Stable acidemia/CVVH application was maintained for 3 hours. Hemodynamics and blood gases were recorded. RESULTS: Mixed acidemia led to a significant decrease in MAP and increase in MPAP in all groups. CVVH led to a further decrease in MAP but improved MPAP. During CVVH, HES130 ensured significantly higher MAP, Hb, and DO2 values than GEL infusion. In the groups without CVVH these differences between HES 130/0.4 and GEL were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: As in a previous study in non-acidemic pigs, we found a colloid-specific influence of HES130 versus GEL on hemodynamics during CVVH under acidemia. Again, HES130 infusion may lead to favorable effects. In contrast, acidemia without CVVH application was dominant over the impact of a respective colloid. The application of a CVVH seems to be an important trigger for the overall circulatory response to a particular colloid.

Prolonged hypoxemia and acidemia in anesthetized pigs: a model for research on extracorporeal organ support in an intensive care setting.

PURPOSE: Hypoxemia and acidemia (hypoxemia/acidemia) are serious complications in the critically ill and often occur in unstable patients exposed to extracorporeal organ support. Still, little is known about the biocompatibility interactions of hypoxemia/acidemia with extracorporeal circuits (ECC). Existing animal models often include the release of mediator cascades (sepsis-, lung injury models) or are based on small laboratory animals. We established a porcine model of hypoxemia/acidemia without an underlying disease and further challenged the situation with an extracorporeal circuit (ECC). METHODS: Hypoxemia/acidemia were induced (3.5 h) and maintained (3 h) in anesthetized pigs (40 kg) by a stepwise reduction in oxygenation, infusion of 0.4 mol.l⁻¹ lactic and hydrochloric acid and by low tidal volume ventilation, targeting an PaO2 < 70 mmHg, SvO2 < 65%, pH ~ 7.2. Venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) operated in recirculation mode without volume exchange was chosen to prove the suitability of the model for studies on ECCs under clinical conditions (ECC group, n=6). Another 6 animals underwent the same protocol except for the CVVH (reference group, n=6). RESULTS: The median PaO2 during hypoxemia/acidemia was 62 mmHg, the median SvO2 was 38%, and the median pH was 7.22. Hypoxemia/acidemia was successfully induced and maintained for 6.5 h in all pigs. CVVH could be performed for 3 h with blood flow rates up to 300 ml.min⁻¹ and filtrate rates up to 60 ml.min⁻¹. CONCLUSIONS: Our model provides hypoxemia/acidemia with blood gas values comparable to critically ill adult patients for several hours, during which it is possible to perform CVVH. Thus, it enables research on the biocompatibility reactions of extracorporeal circuits under intensive care conditions.