Shortage of injectable tromethamine

The American Society of Health-Care Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable tromethamine. Hospira, the sole US-approved manufacturer, cites unspecificed manufacturing delays as the reason for the shortage. The blood becomes too acid because of the acid-citrate-dextrose anticoagulant used during cardiac bypass surgery. THAM, aka tromethamine, is used to make it less acid before restoring normal circulation. When someone goes into cardiac arrest, their blood almost always becomes too acid, and tromethamine is used in this instance as well.