title: Evaluation and treatment of respiratory alkalosis.
abstract: Respiratory alkalosis is the most frequent acid-base disturbance encountered in clinical practice. This is particularly true in critically ill patients, for whom the degree of hypocapnia directly correlates with adverse outcomes. Although this acid-base disturbance often is considered benign, evidence suggests that the alkalemia of primary hypocapnia can cause clinically significant decreases in tissue oxygen delivery. Mild respiratory alkalosis often serves as a marker of an underlying disease and may not require therapeutic intervention. In contrast, severe respiratory alkalosis should be approached with a sense of urgency and be aggressively corrected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. biff.palmer@utsouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Biff F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Palmer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000472:Alkalosis, Respiratory / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male