Any sick patient should have arterial blood gases measured as a routine. This simple test
provides information about both gas exchange and the metabolic state of the patient …

The processes that lead to increased blood lactate concentration in shock and critical illness
are complex. Although it is widely believed that lactic acidosis develops because of tissue …

Background: The frequency and characteristics of patients with critical lactate values (> 4.0
mmol/L) is unknown. Methods: The laboratory database was reviewed for adult patients with …

Arterial blood samples from 202 critically ill patients were studied. Lactate concentration,
PO2, PCO2, pH, oxygen saturation, total CO2, and toe temperature were measured. Base …

Metabolic acidosis and hyperlactataemia are important, independent findings in acute
illness, and the combination of these abnormalities carries a grave prognosis. Despite this …

Circulatory failure is characterized by severe hemodynamic alterations associated with a
decrease in oxygen availability to tissues. Ongoing tissue hypoxia leads to development of …

The general physician sometimes needs to interpret blood gas measurements with which he
has limited familiarity. A simple table shows the relationship of the physiologic mechanisms …

The extracellular lactate concentration reflects the systemic balance between net lactate
production and lactate elimination. Clinically significant acute rises in lactate generally …

The arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) is a valuable diagnostic tool in daily clinical practice.
It yields information about oxygenation, ventilation and acid-base status. ABGAs should …

The key to diagnosis is the ratio of lactate to pyruvate: if this remains normal, lactate
elevation is of relatively small clinical importance; if lactate alone rises, the outlook is …