Stewart's quantitative physical chemical approach enables us to understand the acid-base properties of intravenous fluids. In Stewart's analysis, the three independent acid-base variables are partial CO2 tension, the total concentration of nonvolatile weak acid (ATOT), and the strong ion difference (SID). Raising and lowering ATOT while holding SID constant cause metabolic acidosis and alkalosi...

We undertook the present study to examine the acid-base and electrolyte disturbances in relation to hydration status in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). A total of 40 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients (22 male, 18 female), aged 18-61 years with DKA admitted to our hospital during the last 2 years, were studied. The duration of diabetes averaged 9 +/- 2 years. In all cases a...

A retrospective study was undertaken to elucidate the changes of acid-base balance following general surgery. 2843 samples of arterial blood gas and pH determinations were obtained from 418 surgical patients before and after the operation. Before the operation, the incidence of acid-base disturbance was low, 79.5% of 190 determinations being normal in acid-base balance. During the postoperative...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is diagnosed in the first years of life. There are only two reports in the literature of adult patients with unusual presentation of newly diagnosed CF. We report here an adult patient apparently in a good health, who presented with serious hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis as the only abnormalities, who, through a fortuitous event, was tested by additional means for see...

The approach to and treatment of metabolic alkalosis has made great strides in recent decades and molecular mechanisms have been unraveled. Thus, we were perplexed to receive a request for assistance with hydrochloric acid management. This treatment was not that unusual in the distant past but is nowadays thankfully uncommon. A double-take is an expression of surprise in body language. The cons...

BACKGROUND Hypomagnesemia is frequently encountered in hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying causes of hypomagnesemia as well as the clinical and biochemical characteristics, and concomitant electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities in patients with decreased serum magnesium (Mg(2+)) levels in an internal medicine clinic. METHODS We prospectively studied a...