Sodium Bicarbonate for ICU Acidosis: New Evidence Supporting a Controversial Therapy

In this episode of the Saving Lives Podcast, we break down a 2025 study from Intensive Care Medicine that emulates a target trial on the use of sodium bicarbonate in ICU patients with metabolic acidosis. With over 6,000 patients across 12 Australian ICUs, the study reveals a small but significant reduction in mortality and RRT use with bicarbonate therapy. Tune in to learn how this could transform our clinical approach to acidemia in the critically ill patients.The Vasopressor & Inotrope HandbookAmazon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://amzn.to/47qJZe1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Affiliate Link)My Store: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eddyjoemd.myshopify.com/products/the-vasopressor-inotrope-handbook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Use "podcast" to save 10%)Citation: Blank SP, Blank RM, Laupland KB, Tabah A, Gill D, Kumar A, White K, Attokaran A, Luke S, Whebell S, Garrett P, McCullough J, McIlroy P, Ramanan M; Queensland Critical Care Research Network (QCCRN). Sodium bicarbonate administration for metabolic acidosis in the intensive care unit: a target trial emulation. Intensive Care Med. 2025 Jun;51(6):1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00134-025-07979-x. Epub 2025 Jun 10. PMID: 40493225; PMCID: PMC12208957.