Determinants of oxygen uptake during sodium bicarbonate infusion

Steady-state passive hyperventilation alkalosis produces a predictable increase in oxygen uptake (VO2) proportional to the change in arterial pH (pHa) while variable changes in VO2 have been reported during alkali infusion. To compare metabolic with respiratory alkalosis 17 dogs were anesthetized with halothane and their VO2 response to respiratory alkalosis evaluated by hyperventilation. The pHa measured during this phase was duplicated during the later continuous infusion of NaHCO3 at which time either 1) ventilation was held constant at the control level, allowing arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) to rise as a consequence of the bicarbonate dissociation, or 2) PaCO2 was held constant by servo control of ventilation. Hyperventilation (pHa 7.6, PaCO2 13 Torr) produced an average increase in VO2 of 24%. During the bicarbonate infusion at constant ventilation (pHa 7.6, PaCO2 45 Torr) VO2 increased only 7%; however, when PACO2 was held constant by servo ventilation VO2 increased 21% above control. We conclude that respiratory and metabolic alkalosis produce similar increases in VO2 when steady-state acid-base conditions are achieved.