title: Assessment of acid-base balance. Stewart's approach.
abstract: The study of acid-base equilibrium, its regulation and its interpretation have been a source of debate since the beginning of 20th century. Most accepted and commonly used analyses are based on pH, a notion first introduced by Sorensen in 1909, and on the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation (1916). Since then new concepts have been development in order to complete and make easier the understanding of acid-base disorders. In the early 1980's Peter Stewart brought the traditional interpretation of acid-base disturbances into question and proposed a new method. This innovative approach seems more suitable for studying acid-base abnormalities in critically ill patients. The aim of this paper is to update acid-base concepts, methods, limitations and applications.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, España; Departamento de Cirugía, Radiología y Medicina Física, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, España. Electronic address: beatriz.foresnovales@osakidetza.net.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fores-Novales
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, España; Departamento de Cirugía, Radiología y Medicina Física, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, España.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Diez-Fores
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, España; Departamento de Cirugía, Radiología y Medicina Física, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, España.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Aguilera-Celorrio
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans
keywords: Acid-base balance; Assessment; Equilibrio ácido base; Evaluación; Henderson-Hasselbalch; Método Stewart; Stewart's approach