Publication:

Metabolic acidosis in acute myocardial infarction

Background Metabolic acidosis is known to occur in the early stages of an acute myocardial infarction but it is rarely severe except in the presence of profound cardiogenic shock; nevertheless, it could contribute to the development of dysrhythmias. The objective of present study was to ascertain the acid base status of patient of acute STEMI at the time of hospitalization.

Methods Fifty patients of acute myocardial infarction were interrogated for history of presenting illness examined for vitals systemic examination and investigated by collection of blood sample and ECG.

Results Mortality in patients with pH level 26 meq/l was 20%. Thus there is higher rate of mortality in patients with bicarbonate level <22 meq/l (p value 0.12).

Conclusions The definite correlation was found between metabolic acidosis and mortality (p value was 0.03). As the blood pH was decreasing mortality was increasing and 100% mortality was found in pH level <7.3.