Metabolic acidosis in the newborn period

In this chapter we have described the metabolic diseases which are known to have caused acidosis during the newborn period. We have also provided some diagnostic and treatment guidelines. The occurrence of acidosis in a newborn baby should initiate several actions, aimed simultaneously at treatment and diagnosis. An initial blood gas determination, accompanied by the results of serum electrolytes and glucose, will, in most instances, separate respiratory from metabolic causes. Finding of an increased anion gap and/or presence of hypoglycaemia should direct attention towards errors in intermediary metabolism.