CASE REPORTS   Free access

Minerva Anestesiologica 2008 March;74(3):93-5

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Treatment of severe diabetic acidosis with tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane in a thirteen-year-old child

Marano M. ¹, Iodice F. ², Stoppa F. ¹, Tomasello C. ¹, Perrotta D. ¹, Cecchetti C. ¹, Di Nardo M. ¹, Ciampalini P. ³, Pirozzi N. ¹

¹ DEA-Area Rossa, “Bambino Gesù” Pediatric Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy; ² PICU, “Bambino Gesù” Pediatric Hospital, IRCCS, Palidoro (RM), Italy; ³ Endocrinology Unit, “Bambino Gesù” Pediatric Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a severe complication of type I diabetes. A 13-year-old female (40 kg) patient was admitted to our Intensive Care Unit with severe metabolic acidosis (pH: 6.8), hyperglycemia (835 mg/dL) and coma. Her hemodynamic conditions were unstable and, even though a large amount of plasma expanders, crystalloids, and inotropic support were supplied, the patient went into cardiac arrest in the first hour of treatment. After resuscitation, a better hemodynamic balance was achieved and metabolic acidosis was treated with fluid replacement therapy, continuous insulin infusion, and Tris-hydroxymethyl aminomethane (THAM) as a buffering agent. This therapy rapidly improved her metabolic conditions. The patient was discharged 5 days after Intensive Care Unit admission in good condition and without neurological sequelae.