THE ACID-BASE BALANCE OF THE BLOOD SERUM IN HYPERTHERMIA

Abstract

The acid-base balance of the blood serum was studied in a series of patients who were subjected to artificial fever induced by the Ketering Hypertherm. Certain of the patients were permitted to drink a chilled 0.6% NaCl soln. during the treatment while others were allowed to drink iced distilled water only. The results of the studies which were made at the end of the period necessary to raise the body temp. from normal to the febrile level leave little doubt that hyperventilation plays the major role in causing the initial disturbances of the acid-base balance of the blood in artificial fever. In patients who were permitted to drink water only, the following blood changes were encountered at the end of either 2 or 4 hrs. of fever: an elevated pHs, a decreased pCO2 and decreases of the (BHCO3)s, (BCl)s, inorganic P and the serum total base conc. The total measured acid conc. was also decreased while the undetd. acid fraction was increased. The same changes were encountered when the patients were permitted to drink the dilute saline solution with the exception that the (BCl)S was maintained slightly above the pre-fever level. These observations as well as the more favorable clinical condition of the patient following fever therapy when salt was contained in the drinking water were discussed briefly.