- Joined
- Aug 31, 2003
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I need some help understanding the concept of base deficit. Anyone want to give me a mini-lesson?
Originally posted by Tenesma
base deficits/excesses are a waste of time... all you need to know is the pH and the PCO2... if the patient is acidotic and it isn't due to respiratory issues then you know there is a metabolic acidosis.... pretty simple huh? you don't need any fancy numbers/calculation...
Originally posted by Tenesma
and using serum lactate is a waste of time as well --- its ONLY proven usefulness is as a prognostic marker for severity of disease (ie: if it is high, then there is a higher mortality rate)...
there are many reasons why lactate isn't useful, ESPECIALLY when there is hepatic dysfunction (regardless of whether patient has a metabolic acidosis or not).
Originally posted by Tenesma
you need to understand how base deficit and base excess is calculated... yes, that is right...
BE = (1 - 0.014 x Hgb)[(calculatedHCO3 - 24.8) + (1.43 x Hgb + 7.7)(pH - 7.40)]
if the HGB isn't measured the lab will assume that HGB=15 (which in most patients, especially ones needing ABGs, is very inaccurate)
Originally posted by Tenesma
... and here at MGH that is how we like it:simple...
Originally posted by Astroman
Dox: Makes uncalled-for jab at surgery residents.
Tenesma: Makes uncalled-for jab at medicine residents.
Who wins???