Table 1

Summary of quantitative acid–base studies in critically ill patients and the distribution of type of metabolic acidosis

Ref.

Patient population

Sample size

Metabolic acidosis

Unmeasured acids

Lactate

Chloride

Mixed

[30]

Pediatric ICU patients

540 samples (282 patients)

230 (45.5%) ^a44 – base deficit

120 (52%) – M

22 (9.6%) – M

88 (38.2%) – M

57 (25%) – M

[80]

Pediatric ICU post-cardiac surgery

150 samples (44 patients)

^a24 – anion gap

^a57 – anion gap corrected

44

6

19

10

[15]

Pediatric ICU, patients only with acid–base measurements

255 patients

69 (27%)

55 (79.7%) – M

N/A

N/A

N/A

[79]

Pediatric ICU in shock

46 patients

42 (91%)

33 (72%) – M

39 (85%) – M

29 (63%) – M

N/A

[21]

Adult ICU with met acidosis

50 patients

50 (100%)

49 (98%) – M, T

31 (62%) – M, T

40 (80%) – M, T

N/A

[28]

Adult ICU with suspicion of lactic acidosis (highest lactate used)

851 patients

548 (64%) – T

204 (37%) – M

239 (44%) – M

105 (19%) – M

N/A

^aAuthors defined metabolic acidosis using three different techniques; measurement of other variables by quantitive approach. M, the percentage of the samples with a metabolic acidosis; T, the percentage of the 'total' number (n) of patients.

Gunnerson Critical Care 2005 9:508   doi:10.1186/cc3796