
Published 2022-07-05
Keywords
- acidosis,
- alkalosis
How to Cite
1.
Vallipuram T. Approach to Acid Base Abnormalities . McGill J Med [Internet]. 2022 Jul. 5 [cited 2025 Oct. 6];20(2). Available from: https://mjm.mcgill.ca/article/view/885
Copyright (c) 2022 Tharaniya Vallipuram

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Abstract
This Approach To article provides an overview on acid-base imbalance, with a particular focus on metabolic acidosis. It provides a general step-wise approach on how to determine what acid-base imbalance is occurring and some of the potential underlying causes for each.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
- References
- Clinical laboratory tests – Adult normal values [Internet]. Medical Council of Canada. Medical Council of Canada; 2020 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://mcc.ca/objectives/normal-values/
- Acid-base disorders [Internet]. Amboss. Amboss; 2021 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://next.amboss.com/us/article/zL0rZS?q=acid-base+disorders#sRctoX0
- Rennke HG, Denker BM. In: Acid-Base Physiology and Metabolic Alkalosiss. 4th ed. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2014. p. 124–52.
- Kaufman DA. [Internet]. Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs). American Thoracic Society; [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.thoracic.org/professionals/clinical-resources/critical-care/clinical-education/abgs.php
- Emmett M, Palmer BF. Simple and mixed acid-base disorders [Internet]. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer; 2020 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/simple-and-mixed-acid-base-disorders?search=acid+base+disturbances&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1
- Danziger J, Zeidel M, Parker MJ. In: Maintaining the serum pH: Acid Base Balance. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. p. 155–77.
- Emmet M, Palmer BF. The delta anion gap/delta HCO3 ratio in patients with a high anion gap metabolic acidosis [Internet]. UptoDate. Wolters Kluwer; 2020 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/the-delta-anion-gap-delta-hco3-ratio-in-patients-with-a-high-anion-gap-metabolic-acidosis#H1100297057
- Agabegi SS, Agabegi ED, Chuang K, Duncan MD. Acid Base Disorders. In: Step-up to medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2016. p. 319–24.
- Emmett M, Szerlip H. Approach to the adult with metabolic acidosis [Internet]. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer; 2020 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/approach-to-the-adult-with-metabolic-acidosis?search=mudpiles&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~32&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H1585357
- Kovesdy C. Pathogenesis, consequences, and treatment of metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease [Internet]. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer; 2021 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathogenesis-consequences-and-treatment-of-metabolic-acidosis-in-chronic-kidney-disease#H2
- Ghimire P, Dhamoon AS. Ketoacidosis. [Updated 2020 Nov 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534848/
- Boyer E, Weibrecht K. Salicylate (aspirin) poisoning in adults [Internet]. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer; 2020 [cited 2021Mar29]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/salicylate-aspirin-poisoning-in-adults?search=mudpiles&topicRef=2291&source=related_link#H8
- Le T, Bhushan V, Deol M, Reyes G. Acidosis and Alkalosis . In: First aid for the USMLE Step 1. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2021. p. 616.