Effect of half-molar sodium lactate infusion on biochemical parameters in critically ill patients

Objective To evaluate the impact of the infusion of sodium lactate 500 ml upon different biochemical variables and intracranial pressure in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Design A prospective experimental single cohort study was carried out. Scope Polyvalent intensive care unit of a university hospital. Patients Critical patients with shock and intracranial hypertension. Procedure A 500 ml sodium lactate bolus was infused in 15 min. Plasma levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, lactate, bicarbonate, PaCO2, pH, phosphate and albumin were recorded at 3 timepoints: T0 pre-infusion; T1 at 30 min, and T2 at 60 min post-infusion. Mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure were measured at T0 and T2. Results Forty-one patients received sodium lactate: 19 as an osmotically active agent and 22 as a volume expander. Metabolic alkalosis was observed: T0 vs. T1 (p = 0.007); T1 vs. T2 (p = 0.003). Sodium increased at the 3 timepoints (T0 vs. T1, p Conclusions The infusion of sodium lactate is associated to metabolic alkalosis, hypernatremia, reduced chloremia, and a biphasic change in plasma lactate levels. Moreover, a decrease in intracranial pressure was observed in patients with acute brain injury.