Acid-base disorders: classification and management strategies.

Title

Acid-base disorders: classification and management strategies.

Creator

Williamson J C

Publisher

American Family Physician

Date

1995
1995-08

Description

Acid-base disorders are common in clinical practice. Simple acid-base disturbances include metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. Each can be clearly identified using a common clinical approach. Proper understanding of acid-base disorders requires knowledge of normal physiology. Each of the simple acid-base disorders can be diagnosed by obtaining a good history and performing a physical examination, followed by determinations of electrolyte levels, anion gap and pH. The degree and nature of compensation should then be analyzed. Finally, the ratio of the change in anion gap to the change in serum bicarbonate (delta AG/delta HCO3-) should be determined. When this diagnostic process is applied, proper identification of the disorder can be made and management can be undertaken. Mixed acid-base disorders can also be identified and managed using this method.

Subject

Humans; Male; Middle Aged; *Acid-Base Imbalance/classification/etiology/therapy; Acidosis; Alkalosis

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Pages

584–590

Issue

2

Volume

52

Citation

Williamson J C, “Acid-base disorders: classification and management strategies.,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed March 28, 2024, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/5711.