Acid-base and electrolyte balance following administration of three crystalloid solutions in dogs undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.

Objective To compare acid-base balance and incidence of hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis following administration of three crystalloid solutions to dogs undergoing anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery. Study design Prospective, randomised, clinical study. Animals Sixty dogs. Methods During a non-standardised anaesthetic, 0.9% saline (S), Hartmann's solution (H) or a polyionic glucose-free maintenance solution (M) was administered IV at 10mLkg(-1)hour(-1). Venous blood pH, PCO2, PCV, total protein, urea, sodium, potassium and chloride concentrations were measured at induction of anaesthesia (T0) and after 2hours of fluid therapy (T2). Base excess (BE), bicarbonate, corrected chloride concentration (corrCl), osmolality, change in plasma volume (PV) and strong ion gap (SIG) were calculated. Changes in variables within groups (1-sample Student's t-test/Wilcoxon signed rank test) and between groups (1-way anova/Kruskal-Wallis) were assessed. Data are presented as median (interquartile range). Significance was set at p<0.05. Results No significant differences existed between groups for pH, PCO2, PCV, total protein, urea, potassium, corrCl, PV and SIG. Potassium significantly increased in all groups. Significant differences existed between groups S and M for BE, sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and osmolality, and between groups H and M for sodium and osmolality. Chloride concentration significantly changed from 116 (114-117) to 117 (116-119)mmolL(-1) in group S, 116 (115-118) to 115 (113-117)mmolL(-1) in group H and 116 (115-118) to 114 (113-118) mmolL(-1) in group M. In groups H and M, sodium and osmolality decreased, and BE and bicarbonate concentration increased significantly. Plasma volume increased by 28 (14-44)%, 25 (5-40)% and 24 (13-33)% in groups S, H and M, respectively. Conclusion and clinical relevance Hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis did not develop after intraoperative 0.9% saline, Hartmann's solution or maintenance solution at 10mLkg(-1)hour(-1) for 2hours in dogs undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. Bicarbonate and BE increased after Hartmann's and maintenance solutions. Increases in potassium concentration were unexplained.