Acute metabolic acid-base disorders

Metabolic acid-base disturbances commonly and predictably complicate the course of many intensive care unit patients and plague the intensivists, surgeons, and anesthesiologists beset with the task of caring for them. In this article, we offer a systematic approach to the patient with the metabolic acid-base disorders that are likely to be encountered in the setting of the intensive care unit. The discussions are in no way presented as through treatments of all metabolic disorders, but rather focus on the more practical aspects, namely, clinical scenarios, diagnostic clues, and therapeutic goals. Additionally, we interject a discussion of some of the more controversial topics with regard to the therapy of metabolic disorders.