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...

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are affected by episodes of respiratory exacerbations, some of which can be severe and may necessitate respiratory support. Prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation is associated with increased mortality rates. Persistent failure to discontinue invasive mechanical ventilation is a major issue in patients with COPD. Pure or mixed metabo...

Background. Symptoms of mountain sickness are due to hypoxia of the brain. The pathogenesis is complex, but acid-base disturbances certainly play a role. When arterial oxygen levels drop, hyperventilation is induced, resulting in a respiratory alkalosis. However, this alkalosis inhibits the hyperventilation necessary for maintaining oxygen pressure. We present a case of a patient with symptoms ...

Blood acid-base regulation by specialized epithelia, such as gills and kidney, requires the ability to sense blood acid-base status. Here, we developed primary cultures of ray (Urolophus halleri) gill cells to study mechanisms for acid-base sensing without the interference of whole animal hormonal regulation. Ray gills have abundant base-secreting cells, identified by their noticeable expressio...