title: Metabolic acidosis in the acute abdomen.
abstract: Acid-base balance in 13 patients with acute abdominal conditions has been studied. Superior mesenteric arterial occlusion in 3 patients  produced a base excess of less then-12. Other acute abdominal emergencies did not produce as profound a metabolic acidosis. The limitations of using severe metabolic acidosis as a diagnostic criterion in superior mesentric arterial occlusion are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000138:Acidosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005734:Gangrene / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications; D007421:Intestine, Small; D008297:Male; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000150:complications