Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma

Extreme acidosis is a life-threatening physiological state that causes disturbances in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, and hematological systems. Trauma patients commonly present to the operating room (OR) in hypovolemic shock, leading to tissue hypoperfusion and the development of acute meta...

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Main Authors: Alexander Balmaceda, Sona Arora, Ilan Sondheimer, McKenzie M. Hollon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Society of Traumatology 2019-12-01
Series:Journal of Trauma and Injury
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jtraumainj.org/upload/pdf/jti-2019-029.pdf
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author Alexander Balmaceda
Sona Arora
Ilan Sondheimer
McKenzie M. Hollon
author_facet Alexander Balmaceda
Sona Arora
Ilan Sondheimer
McKenzie M. Hollon
author_sort Alexander Balmaceda
collection DOAJ
description Extreme acidosis is a life-threatening physiological state that causes disturbances in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, and hematological systems. Trauma patients commonly present to the operating room (OR) in hypovolemic shock, leading to tissue hypoperfusion and the development of acute metabolic acidosis with or without a respiratory component. It is often believed that trauma patients presenting to the OR in severe metabolic acidosis (pH <7.0) will have a nearly universal mortality rate despite aggressive resuscitation and damage control. The current literature does not include reports of successful resuscitations from a lower pH, which may lead providers to assume that a good outcome is not possible. However, here we describe a case of successful resuscitation from an initial pH of 6.5 with survival to discharge home 95 days after admission with almost full recovery. We describe the effects of acute acidosis on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and hemostasis. Finally, we discuss the pillars of management in patients with extreme acute acidosis due to hemorrhage: transfusion, treatment of hyperkalemia, and consideration of buffering acidosis with bicarbonate and hyperventilation.
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series Journal of Trauma and Injury
spelling doaj-art-49e0a4a07177492f8cab31ac02a07a3f2025-08-20T03:34:17ZengKorean Society of TraumatologyJournal of Trauma and Injury1738-87672287-16832019-12-0132423824210.20408/jti.2019.029997Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after TraumaAlexander Balmaceda0Sona Arora1Ilan Sondheimer2McKenzie M. Hollon3Department of Anesthesia, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USADepartment of Anesthesia, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USADepartment of Anesthesia, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USADepartment of Anesthesia, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USAExtreme acidosis is a life-threatening physiological state that causes disturbances in the cardiovascular, pulmonary, immune, and hematological systems. Trauma patients commonly present to the operating room (OR) in hypovolemic shock, leading to tissue hypoperfusion and the development of acute metabolic acidosis with or without a respiratory component. It is often believed that trauma patients presenting to the OR in severe metabolic acidosis (pH <7.0) will have a nearly universal mortality rate despite aggressive resuscitation and damage control. The current literature does not include reports of successful resuscitations from a lower pH, which may lead providers to assume that a good outcome is not possible. However, here we describe a case of successful resuscitation from an initial pH of 6.5 with survival to discharge home 95 days after admission with almost full recovery. We describe the effects of acute acidosis on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and hemostasis. Finally, we discuss the pillars of management in patients with extreme acute acidosis due to hemorrhage: transfusion, treatment of hyperkalemia, and consideration of buffering acidosis with bicarbonate and hyperventilation.http://www.jtraumainj.org/upload/pdf/jti-2019-029.pdfacute metabolic acidosisshock, hemorrhagictrauma
spellingShingle Alexander Balmaceda
Sona Arora
Ilan Sondheimer
McKenzie M. Hollon
Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma
Journal of Trauma and Injury
acute metabolic acidosis
shock, hemorrhagic
trauma
title Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma
title_full Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma
title_fullStr Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma
title_full_unstemmed Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma
title_short Resuscitation from a pH of 6.5: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology and Management of Extreme Acidosis from Hypovolemic Shock after Trauma
title_sort resuscitation from a ph of 6 5 a case report and review of pathophysiology and management of extreme acidosis from hypovolemic shock after trauma
topic acute metabolic acidosis
shock, hemorrhagic
trauma
url http://www.jtraumainj.org/upload/pdf/jti-2019-029.pdf
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