Sodium Bicarbonate in Cardiac Arrest

Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy Does Not Work in Cardiac Arrest

emDocs - November 5, 2018 - Author: Murchison C - Edited by: Koyfman A and Long B

..."Takeaways: 

1. The evidence for acidosis being harmful is primarily based on in vitro studies. Clinical data show acidosis may not be as harmful as we think. 
2. Sodium bicarbonate therapy creates excess CO2 which must be quickly exhaled. If a patient is not adequately ventilating they will become more acidotic when given sodium bicarbonate therapy. 
3. There are only two clinical trials on using sodium bicarbonate in cardiac arrest, both show no benefit. The AHA no longer recommends its use in ACLS."