Management of Life-Threatening Acid–Base Disorders

Acid–base homeostasis exerts a major influence on protein function, thereby critically affecting tissue and organ performance. Deviations of systemic acidity in either direction can have adverse consequences and, when severe, can be life-threatening. Yet it is the nature of the condition responsible for severe acidemia or alkalemia that largely determines the patient's status and prognosis. Whereas a blood pH of 7.10 can be of little consequence when caused by a transient or easily reversible condition, such as an isolated seizure, it forecasts an ominous outcome if it is the result of methanol intoxication. Similarly, a blood pH of 7.60 seldom . . .