title: Clinical review: the meaning of acid-base abnormalities in the intensive care unit part I - epidemiology.
abstract: Acid-base abnormalities are common in critically ill patients. Our ability to describe acid-base disorders must be precise. Small differences in corrections for anion gap, different types of analytical processes, and the basic approach used to diagnose acid-base aberrations can lead to markedly different interpretations and treatment strategies for the same disorder. By applying a quantitive acid-base approach, clinicians are able to account for small changes in ion distribution that may have gone unrecognized with traditional techniques of acid-base analysis. Outcome prediction based on the quantitative approach remains controversial. This is in part due to use of various technologies to measure acid-base variables, administration of fluid or medication that can alter acid-base results, and lack of standardized nomenclature. Without controlling for these factors it is difficult to appreciate the full effect that acid-base disorders have on patient outcomes, ultimately making results of outcome studies hard to compare.
authors.affiliation: The Virginia Commonwealth University Reanimation Engineering and Shock Center (VCURES) Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, USA. kgunnerson@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Kyle J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Gunnerson
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000137:Acid-Base Imbalance / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000138:Acidosis / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D004573:Electrolytes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide