Ventilatory and metabolic changes during high efficiency hemodialysis

Ventilatory and metabolic changes were measured in seven patients undergoing high efficiency hemodialysis using a cuprophane dialyzer and bicarbonate-containing dialysate. At an HCO3 concentration of 35 mEq/liter and a mean in vivo urea clearance of 3.6 ml/kg/min, hypoxemia was not detected during dialysis (PaO2 was 14.00 and 13.60 kPa before and during dialysis). The new findings, related to high efficiency bicarbonate dialysis, include a sustained rise in minute ventilation (VE, 6.1 to 6.8 liter/min, P less than 0.01), an increase in CO2 excretion (VCO2, 194 to 214 ml/min, P less than 0.05), and O2 consumption (VO2, 215 to 246 ml/min, P less than 0.05). The increment in VE and VCO2 was attributed to the high flux rate of bicarbonate while the rise in VO2 is likely the result of metabolic alkalosis. Arterial pH rose from 7.40 to 7.49 mm Hg and serum HCO3 increased from 23.8 to 29.2 mEq/liter, while pCO2 remained normal at 5.07 kPa throughout the study. The acid-base status of the blood changed from that of a metabolic acidosis to that of a respiratory acidosis across the dialyzer where the pH decreased from 7.47 to 7.41 and pCO2 rose from 5.31 to 7.72 kPa. These data indicate that a healthy ventilatory response is needed to excrete the excess CO2 generated during high efficiency bicarbonate hemodialysis. The significance and etiology of the elevated O2 consumption is undetermined.