Acidosis

  Just recently my daughter passed away during open heart surgery.  She was only 7 days old when she passed away and my wife and I are trying to pick up the pieces.  Haley was diagnosed with an unbalanced endocushion defect.  She passed away during the first operation of a procedure called the Norwood.  The question I have is about Acidosis or Acidotic.  The day before Haley's operation she became acidotic, and at the time the doctors did not make this out to be a very big deal.  They gave her sodium bicarbonate to equalize her levels.  Later, after her death some people have told us that it is very serious when your blood becomes acidotic. Is this true?
  They were also giving her prostiglandin.  Would they give her this because of the acidosis of her blood, or does prostiglandin cause blood to become acidotic?
  Please respond to me by email because I want to know the second this question is answered.
  Thank you.

[CCF Cardio MD - MTR]

Dear Kevin, thank you for your question.  I first want to extend my sympathies to your family regarding your daughter's death.  Acidosis can be seen in patients with serious cardiac disease but how it's treated and what it means for the prognosis of a given patient is individual specific.  Thus, without being involved in your daughter's care, I am unable to offer an opinion regarding how acidosis was treated because there are many details about her care/case that I do not know.  Furthermore, prostaglandin should not have caused the acidosis to occur.  Prostaglandin is used for a variety of reasons in patients with cardiac disease so I suggest that you speak with the cardiologist or cardiothoracic surgeon who were caring for her to understand why this medication was used.  I apologize that I am unable to provide you with more detailed information, but I think it is most appropriate that the doctors who took care of your daughter answer your questions.  I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your physician.