Non Carbonic Buffer Power of Critical Ill Patients With Sepsis

Alterations of acid-base equilibrium are very common in critically ill patients and understanding their pathophysiology can be important to improve clinical treatment. The human body is protected against acid-base disorders by several compensatory mechanisms that minimize pH variations in response to acid-base derangements. The present study focuses on the acute compensatory mechanisms of respiratory acid-base derangements, i.e., respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. In this case the non-carbonic buffers are constituted by albumin and phosphates in plasma, with the addition of hemoglobin in whole blood. Aim of the present in-vitro study is to measure the buffer power of non-carbonic weak acids contained in whole blood and isolated plasma, assess the relative contribution of red blood cells and plasma proteins and perform a comparison between septic patients and healthy controls.