Intraoperative Cell Salvage and Postoperative Acidosis
Metabolic AcidosisMetabolic acidosis is a common complication that patients experience in the early postoperative period following cardiac surgery. Increasingly, the composition and volume of intravenous fluids administered during surgery have been implicated in the development of postoperative acidosis. Intraoperative Cell Salvage (ICS), an autologous blood transfusion technique employed by Cardiac/Perfusion Units to minimize blood loss during surgery, involves the infusion of of one such fluid, 0.9% sodium chloride. The rapid infusion of large volumes of 0.9% sodium chloride has previously been linked with the development of hyperchloraemic acidosis. We hypothesize that the volume of mechanically salvaged of red blood cells re-infused into patients undergoing heart surgery contributes to the acidosis that occurs in the early postoperative period. To test this, we have designed an observational cohort study to check for correlation between the volume of cell salvaged blood infused during surgery and the severity of postoperative acidosis (which will be assessed using data from routine arterial blood gas samples).
Renal Tubular Acidosis in Incident Renal Transplant Recipients
Renal Transplant DisorderMetabolic acidosis is a common complication in incident renal transplant recipients. Protracted acidosis may be associated with osteoporosis, inflammation, negative protein balance and malnutrition, and last but not least may cause renal dysfunction. Preliminary data indicate an increased prevalence of nephrocalcinosis in renal transplant biopsies of incident patients presenting with metabolic acidosis. The present study aims (1)evaluate the prevalence and type of renal tubular acidosis (RTA) in incident renal transplant recipients and to identify clinical correlates and (2) to find associations between RTA, nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis