Metabolic acidosis

This article reviews acid-base homeostasis and discusses the approach to the acidotic patient, with special reference to problems commonly encountered in emergency practice. General principles of therapy are presented, and their application to specific types of life-threatening metabolic acidosis addressed. By extension, recommendations are made concerning the treatment of the acidosis associated with cardiac arrest. Finally, preliminary information is presented on promising new approaches to the treatment of metabolic acidosis that are currently under investigation.