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Clinical review: Reunification of acid–base physiology

John A Kellum

  • Correspondence: John A Kellum

Author Affiliations

The CRISMA (Clinical Research Investigation and Systems Modeling of Acute Illness) Laboratory, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Critical Care 2005, 9:500-507 doi:10.1186/cc3789

Published: 5 August 2005

Abstract

Recent advances in acid–base physiology and in the epidemiology of acid–base disorders have refined our understanding of the basic control mechanisms that determine blood pH in health and disease. These refinements have also brought parity between the newer, quantitative and older, descriptive approaches to acid–base physiology. This review explores how the new and older approaches to acid–base physiology can be reconciled and combined to result in a powerful bedside tool. A case based tutorial is also provided.