Base-excess chloride; the best approach to evaluating the effect of chloride on the acid- base status: a retrospective study

Background: To determine the effect of chloride on the acid-base status, four approaches are currently used: 1) accepted ranges of serum chloride values; 2) chloride corrections, such as chloride deficiency/excess and chloride modification; 3) the Cl/Na ratio; and 4) the sodium- chloride difference, such as base-excess chloride. However, these approaches are governed by different concepts, and they can evaluate the effects of chloride on the acid-base status differently. Our aim is to investigate which approach to the evaluation of the effect of chloride is the best.Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 2529 critically ill patients who were admitted to the tertiary care unit were evaluated between 2011 and 2018. Patient characteristics and blood gas parameters at the ICU admission and outcomes were recorded. The effects of chloride on the acid-base status according to each evaluative approach were validated by the standard base excess and apparent strong ion difference. To compare approaches, kappa and Bland-Altman tests and a linear regression model were used. Results: In the linear regression model for all patients, only base-excess chloride in all the chloride evaluation approaches was significantly related to the standard base excess. In the subgroup, the correlation and limits of agreement between base-excess chloride and the standard base excess were the strongest (r2=0.92 p<0.001 bias: 0.5mmol/L). Conclusions: For the evaluation of the effect of chloride on the acid-base status, base-excess chloride is a better approach than accepted ranges of serum chloride values, chloride corrections and the Cl/Na ratio.

Scientific Progress or Regress in Sports Physiology?

In modern societies there is strong belief in scientific progress, but, unfortunately, a parallel partial regress occurs because of often avoidable mistakes. Mistakes are mainly forgetting, erroneous theories, errors in experiments and manuscripts, prejudice, selected publication of “positive” results, and fraud. An example of forgetting is that methods introduced decades ago are used without knowing the underlying theories: Basic articles are no longer read or cited. This omission may cause incorrect interpretation of results. For instance, false use of actual base excess instead of standard base excess for calculation of the number of hydrogen ions leaving the muscles raised the idea that an unknown fixed acid is produced in addition to lactic acid during exercise. An erroneous theory led to the conclusion that lactate is not the anion of a strong acid but a buffer. Mistakes occur after incorrect application of a method, after exclusion of unwelcome values, during evaluation of measurements by false calculations, or during preparation of manuscripts. Co-authors, as well as reviewers, do not always carefully read papers before publication. Peer reviewers might be biased against a hypothesis or an author. A general problem is selected publication of positive results. An example of fraud in sports medicine is the presence of doped subjects in groups of investigated athletes. To reduce regress, it is important that investigators search both original and recent articles on a topic and conscientiously examine the data. All co-authors and reviewers should read the text thoroughly and inspect all tables and figures in a manuscript.

Acid-Base Effects of a Bicarbonate-Balanced Priming Fluid during Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Comparison with Plasma-Lyte 148. A Randomised Single-Blinded Study

Fluid-induced metabolic acidosis can be harmful and can complicate cardiopulmonary bypass. In an attempt to prevent this disturbance, we designed a bicarbonate-based crystalloid circuit prime balanced on physico-chemical principles with a strong ion difference of 24 mEq/l and compared its acid-base effects with those of Plasma-Lyte 148, a multiple electrolyte replacement solution containing acetate plus gluconate totalling 50 mEq/l. Twenty patients with normal acid-base status undergoing elective cardiac surgery were randomised 1:1 to a 2 litre prime of either bicarbonate-balanced fluid or Plasma-Lyte 148. With the trial fluid, metabolic acid-base status was normal following bypass initiation (standard base excess 0.1 (1.3) mEq/l, mean, SD), whereas Plasma-Lyte 148 produced a slight metabolic acidosis (standard base excess -2.2 (2.1) mEq/l). Estimated group difference after baseline adjustment was 3.6 mEq/l (95% confidence interval 2.1 to 5.1 mEq/l, P=0.0001). By late bypass, mean standard base excess in both groups was normal (0.8 (2.2) mEq/l vs. -0.8 (1.3) mEq/l, P=0.5). Strong ion gap values were unaltered with the trial fluid, but with Plasma-Lyte 148 increased significantly on bypass initiation (15.2 (2.5) mEq/l vs. 2.5 (1.5) mEq/l, P <0.0001), remaining elevated in late bypass (8.4 (3.4) mEq/l vs. 5.8 (2.4) mEq/l, P <0.05). We conclude that a bicarbonate-based crystalloid with a strong ion difference of 24 mEq/l is balanced for cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with normal acid-base status, whereas Plasma-Lyte 148 triggers a surge of unmeasured anions, persisting throughout bypass. These are likely to be gluconate and/or acetate. Whether surges of exogenous anions during bypass can be harmful requires further study.