Considering the cardiac effects of sodium bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate has been shown to reduce myocardial and systemic oxygen consumption and to decrease myocardial contractility in heart failure [see Clinical Pharmacology section, this issue, p17]. ' ••. This Information should be used as a strong argument against the routine use of sodium bicarbonate In cardiac arrest'.

Sodium bicarbonate should only be administered when there is a pre-existing metabolic acidosis.

However, in patients requiring chronic haemodialysis, sodium bicarbonate appears to improve cardiovascular stability and is therefore preferred to acetate as the dialysate base replacement. Ayus JC. Krothapallo RK Effect 01 bicarbonate adll1ll11Stralion on cardtaC IunctlOll. Amencan Journat 01 Medicine 87 5-6 . .lui 1989. ..,

0156-270389/0729- 0003/0$01.00/0 © ADlS Press INPHARMA' 29 Ju/ 1989 3