Acid-base Balance Cases and Calculators

Clinical Cases

Acid-Base Practice Cases from the University of Connecticut.
Acid-Base Physiology Example Cases. AnaesthesiaMCQ.com.
An approach to complex acid-base problems. Can Fam Physician. 2005 February 10; 51(2): 226–232.

Calculators

MedCalc: Acid-Base Calculator. Calculates the compensation and suggests if the primary disorder is acute or chronic.
ECG: Arterial Blood Gases. Steve Anisman.
MDCalc: Anion Gap (w/Delta Gap)
Cleveland Clinics shares their Algorithms for Medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Mnemonic: ARMADA - acid-base balance work-up in 6 steps by answering 6 questions

1. A cidosis or Alkalosis?
2. R espiratory disorder? – acidosis or alkalosis – check PaCO2
3. M etabolic disorder? – acidosis or alkalosis – check HCO3
4. A nion Gap?
5. D elta AG?
6. A ssess compensation

References:
Online Acid-Base. American Thoracic Society.
A stepwise approach to acid-base disorders. Postgraduate Medicine, 2000.
Top 10 Clinical Pearls in Acid-base Disorders. Resident and Staff Physician, Jan 2007.
Acid-Base/Electrolytes. UCSF Hospitalist Handbook, 2002.

Assessing acid–base disorders. Kidney International (2009) 76, 1239–1247.
Image source: OpenClipArt.org, public domain.

Related:
Audio: Answer to new acidosis case. DB’s Medical Rants, 10/2008.
Student lecture on Acid-Base Balance. Precious Bodily Fluids, 02/2009.
Introducing the Acid-Base Machine. Precious Bodily Fluids, 04/2009.
On ABGs. DB’s Medical Rants, 09/2009.
Acid Base Disorders. John Doyle, MD.
Pulmonary Puzzle #007. Life in the Fast Lane, 2010.

Acid Base Handout (Student)

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Study Guides Academic Work osmolar gap delta gap

Updated: 01/11/2010