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Acute respiratory acidosis does not increase plasma potassium in normokalaemic anaesthetized patients. A controlled randomized trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 August 2006

G. Natalini ,
V. Seramondi ,
P. Fassini ,
P. Foccoli ,
C. Toninelli ,
S. Cavaliere  and
A. Candiani
G. Natalini
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Brescia, Italy Present address: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive care, Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy.
V. Seramondi
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Brescia, Italy
P. Fassini
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Brescia, Italy
P. Foccoli
Affiliation:
Respiratory Endoscopy and Laser Therapy Centre, ‘Spedali Civili’ Hospital, Brescia, Italy
C. Toninelli
Affiliation:
Respiratory Endoscopy and Laser Therapy Centre, ‘Spedali Civili’ Hospital, Brescia, Italy
S. Cavaliere
Affiliation:
Respiratory Endoscopy and Laser Therapy Centre, ‘Spedali Civili’ Hospital, Brescia, Italy
A. Candiani
Affiliation:
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Brescia, Italy
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Abstract

Background and objective Few and conflicting data are available regarding the changes of plasma potassium concentration during acute respiratory acidosis in human beings. This study compares the acute changes in plasma potassium concentration in acutely hypercapnic patients and in non–hypercapnic patients during general anaesthesia.

Methods Thirty-three patients undergoing interventional rigid bronchoscopy were studied. Ventilation of the lungs was randomly conducted using either spontaneous–assisted ventilation or intermittent negative–pressure ventilation. All patients received the same anaesthetic protocol. Arterial blood gases and osmolality, and plasma concentrations of glucose, sodium, potassium and chloride were measured.

Results Intraoperatively, PaCO2 was higher during spontaneous-assisted ventilation than during intermittent negative-pressure ventilation (9±1.8 vs. 5.4±1.2 kPa, P < 0.001) and the pH was also lower during spontaneous-assisted ventilation than during intermittent negative-pressure ventilation (7.24±0.07 vs. 7.4 ±0.08, P < 0.001). Plasma potassium concentration remained similar in both groups (3.8± 0.2mmolL−1 with spontaneous–assisted ventilation vs. 3.7± 0.4mmol L−1 with intermittent negativepressure ventilation).

Conclusion Acute respiratory acidosis does not affect plasma potassium concentration.

Keywords

acidosisacidosisrespiratoryanaesthesia generalanaesthesia inhalationdiagnostic techniquespotassiumrespiratory systembronchoscopyventilators mechanicalventilatorsnegative-pressure
Type
Original Article
Information
European Journal of Anaesthesiology , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , June 2001 , pp. 394 - 400
Copyright
2001 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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