Anesthesia

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

Clinical utility of anion gap in deciphering acid–base disorders
International Journal of Clinical Practice, 09/22/09

Reddy P et al. – The anion gap (AG) measurement is a very useful tool in the evaluation of patients with acid–base disorders. Once metabolic acidosis is identified, AG will provide the important first step in the differential diagnosis of disorders that either increase the AG and those that leave the AG unchanged. Delta gap is the comparison between change (delta) in the AG and the change (delta) in bicarbonate (HCO3^?). Delta ratio, defined as delta AG:delta HCO3^? is usually 1 : 1 in patients with an uncomplicated high AG acidosis. A value below 1 : 1 suggests a combined high and normal AG acidosis. A value above 2 : 1 suggests a combined metabolic alkalosis and a high AG acidosis. Urine AG (unmeasured anions–unmeasured cations) is an indirect estimate of the urine NH4+ excretion. It is typically negative in patients with normal AG metabolic acidosis secondary to diarrhoea. Utilisation of AG calculations helps clinicians in identifying and treating acid–base disorders.

Today in Critical Care...keeping you current

Receive free subspecialty "5-minute updates" via email

Late initiation of renal replacement therapy is associated with worse outcomes in acute kidney injury after major abdominal surgery
Critical Care, 11/06/09

Inotrope and Vasopressor Therapy of Septic Shock
Critical Care Clinics, 11/09/09

Corticosteroid therapy for acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and severe pneumonia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Journal of Critical Care, 11/11/09

See All of Critical Care