Marked dilutional acidosis complicating management of right ventricular myocardial infarction

Dilutional acidosis is a poorly recognized cause of metabolic acidosis, Indeed, the prevailing view has been that even massive expansion of the extracellular fluid volume with non-bicarbonate-containing solutions would not lead to clinically significant hypobicarbonatemia. We describe the development of marked dilutional acidosis as a complication of management of right ventricular myocardial infarction, The pathogenesis, clinical significance, prevention, and treatment of the entity are discussed. (C) 1997 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.