How to work up an adult patient with metabolic acidosis

Gurkirpal S Bajwa1, Asif Hussain2, Muhammad M Javaid2,3,4

  • 1Department of Medicine, Bunbury Regional Hospital, Bunbury, Australia.

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Diagnosing acid-base imbalances involves systematically analyzing arterial blood samples, focusing on three key measurements: pH, bicarbonate (HCO3−) concentration, and carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2). This analysis follows a four-step process that helps identify the imbalance's underlying cause and nature.
First, the pH level is assessed to determine whether the blood pH is normal (7.35–7.45), low (acidosis), or high (alkalosis).
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