Quantitative acid-base physiology using the Stewart model. Does it improve our understanding of what is really wrong?
Traditional theories of acid-base balance are based on the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation to calculate proton concentration. The recent revival of quantitative acid-base physiology using the Stewart model has increased our understanding of complicated acid-base disorders, but has also led to several new controversies. With the help of three patient histories, we show that the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation should be regarded as a simplified version of the more general Stewart model and not as something completely different. Therefore, both models may be useful at the bedside.
Derksen
R
R
Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.derksen@anes.umcn.nl
Scheffer
G J
GJ
van der Hoeven
J G
JG