Pulmonary oedema associated with acidosis in patients with cholera

Five patients with severe acidosis and pulmonary oedema complicating cholera were seen at the Cholera Research Laboratory, Dacca, in a two year period. All had had inadequate treatment. Their disease resulted in acidosis prior to admission; only the two who subsequently survived received volumes of sodium bicarbonate solutions sufficiently large to repair completely their acidosis. Saline alone worsened pulmonary congestion, while alkali appeared to relieve it despite the accompanying volume expansion. These observations are consistent with the known redistribution of blood to the central circulation in acidosis. Timely and proper treatment of cholera will avert this syndrome. When encountered use of isotonic sodium bicarbonate sufficient to correct acidosis may be very helpful.