PulmCCM - May 29, 2016 - By JE
"How might you answer this oral board examination question? Describe the systemic effect on pH following 2 litres infusion of each of the following solutions:
A. normal saline with a pH of 7.0
B. normal saline with a pH of 5.6
C. normal saline with a pH of 4.6.
Pick up a bag of normal saline [NS] and look at the reported pH [or half-normal saline for that matter]. Yes, normal saline is acidic, but firstly, how can pure water with admixed sodium cations and chloride anions have anything but a pH of 7.0? Secondly, how can there be a range of pH? Thirdly, should this make us pause when infusing it into a patient?"