Acid-base disorders: learning the basics

Abstract

Nutrition support practitioners should be confident in their ability to recognize and treat various metabolic and respiratory disorders encountered in daily practice. A clinician's comprehension of the underlying physiologic processes and/or exogenous causes that occur during acid-base disorders is essential when making therapeutic decisions regarding fluids, parenteral nutrition, and electrolyte management. This invited review will discuss basic metabolic and respiratory disorders while briefly addressing mixed acid-base disorders.

Keywords: acid-base equilibrium; acid-base imbalance; acidosis; alkalosis; nutritional support; parenteral nutrition.