Effects of buffering in hypercapnia and hypercapnic hypoxemia
Anesthetized, paralyzed and mechanically ventilated pigs were exposed to extreme hypercapnia (PaCO2 approximately 20 kPa) at FiO2 0.4 for 480 min, with (n = 6) or without (n = 6) continuous infusion of isotonic buffers (bicarbonate and trometamol). Arterial pH was higher in buffered animals than controls, 7.21 +/- 0.01 vs 7.01 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- s.e.mean, P < 0.01). Serum osmolality and PaCO2 did