Detection and differentiation of metabolic acidosis in parturients

Base deficit and blood glucose were measured in 36 laboring women in whom metabolic acidosis was clinically suspected. Of 15 parturients, 11 showed presumptive evidence of lactacidemia, two ketoacidemia, and two a combination of both. Differential diagnosis is important since therapy differs: ketoacidosis is treated with intravenous glucose, lactacidosis is treated with continuous segmental extradural block.