Problem-based review: A patient with metabolic acidosis.
Metabolic acidosis is a common metabolic derangement present in the acute medical patient. A thorough and structured investigative approach is required as there are many causes and management is reliant on identifying these. In particular calculation of the anion gap with correction for albumin level and use of the delta ratio can be helpful in complex cases especially in patients where a combination of metabolic derangements may be present.
ST5 Acute Medicine, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. russellallan@doctors.org.uk
Russell
R
Allan
Christopher
C
Foster
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000138:Acidosis; D006801:Humans