Experimental Study of Relationship between the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation and O₂, CO₂ and pH in Arterial Blood

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most serious kind of arrhythmia, because it is frequently associated with organic heart diseases and other disorders. However, the mechanism and genesis of atrial fibrillation have been made clear only to certain extent and degree. The aim of this experiment is to investigate effects of metabolic alkalosis or acidosis using various drugs, 2.0 per cent sodium bicarbonate, 2.0 per cent sodium lactate, 1/10 N sodium-2-phosphate and 1/10 N sodium-1-phosphate, on the initiation of the atrial fibrillation. It was observed in this experiment that the incidence of atrial fibrillation increased in proportion to the increase of pH, CO₂ vol% bicarbonate ion and buffer base of serum and decrease of pO₂ of arterial blood.