Acid-Base Disorders

Abstract

This review is a summary of the acid-base physiology that is essential to understanding acid-base pathophysiology. An acid is defined as a proton donor; a base is defined as a proton acceptor. The body fluids are composed of acids and bases, which are tightly regulated by our organ systems, specifically the respiratory system and kidneys. Derangements in the body’s acid-base homeostatic mechanisms or overloading the capacity of the body’s ability to respond can lead to acid-base disorders. These include acidosis and alkalosis, which can be further classified into respiratory, metabolic, or mixed disorders. The approach to these disorders is to stabilize the patient, focusing on respiratory and circulatory status and treating the underlying cause of the acid-base derangement. This review contains 4 highly rendered figures, 2 tables, and 26 references. Key words: acid-base disorders, acid-base homeostasis, acid-base physiology, acidemia, alkalemia, metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, mixed acid-base disorders, respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis