The Comparison of the Effects of “Trometamol; Tris-hydroxymethyl Aminomethane” and “Sodium Bicarbonate” Treatments on Mortality and Survival Time in Experimental Metabolic Acidosis Induced by Methanol Intoxication

Introduction
Metabolic acidosis is the most serious complication of methanol intoxication, which needs urgent treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of “Trometamol; Tris-hydroxymethylAminomethane” (THAM) and “Sodium Bicarbonate” (NaHCO3) treatments on mortality and survival time in rats with metabolic acidosis induced by intragastric-administered methanol.
Materials and Methods
In 21 rats, a cannula was inserted in the right common carotid artery; the esophagus of each rat was penetrated with a branul. Baseline arterial blood gas samples were taken and 6 g/kg dose of methanol was injected into the cannula in the esophagus. The rats with confirmed acidosis were separated into three groups of ‘THAM’, ‘NaHCO3’and ‘Control’ for the treatments. The control group received no medication and the THAM and NaHCO3 groups were administered the corresponding treatments intravenously.
Results
A statistically significant difference was determined between the survival times of the THAM and NaHCO3 groups (P = 0.036) and the THAM and Control groups (P = 0.002).
Conclusion
The results of this study support the use of THAM, which is a biological low toxicity inert amino alcohol instead of NaHCO3 in the treatment of metabolic acidosis induced by intragastric methanol intoxication.