Dilutional acidosis during whole lung lavage under general anesthesia due to excessive absorption of normal saline

Mikako Inada; Izumi Kawagoe; Osamu Kudoh; Daizoh Satoh; Chieko Mitaka; Masakazu Hayashida

doi:10.1186/s40981-022-00520-9

Dilutional acidosis during whole lung lavage under general anesthesia due to excessive absorption of normal saline

JA Clin Rep. 2022 Apr 14;8(1):30. doi: 10.1186/s40981-022-00520-9.

Authors

Mikako Inada¹, Izumi Kawagoe², Osamu Kudoh¹, Daizoh Satoh¹, Chieko Mitaka¹, Masakazu Hayashida¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
² Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan. ikawago@juntendo.ac.jp.

Abstract

Background: Whole lung lavage (WLL) is an effective therapy for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. We report a rare dilutional acidosis following WLL in a female patient.

Case presentation: Under general anesthesia, a left-sided double-lumen tube was inserted with its bronchial lumen connected to the saline delivery system. Preoperatively, arterial blood gases were within normal limits. During 14 l of fluid was instilled into the lung for 2.5 hours, a decrease in pH, K⁺, and base excess, alongside an increase in Na⁺ and Cl^-, indicated a strong ion difference; the diagnosis was dilutional hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Although she remained hemodynamically stable and had no indicators of massive absorption, she stayed in the ICU for mechanical ventilation for one night out of concern of pulmonary edema.

Conclusions: Inappropriate irrigating fluid pressure might lead to absorption of normal saline. Continuous monitoring and careful observation during WLL can help prevent intraoperative dilutional acidosis.

Keywords: Dilutional acidosis; Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Whole lung lavage.