Metabolic Acidosis Consults
Acid-base disorders are common in ill, hospitalized patients. On the nephrology rotation, you will most commonly be consulted for patients with metabolic acidosis, although you will also see metabolic alkalosis and mixed disorders. Metabolic acidosis can be seen in many clinical conditions, including non-gap acidoses with renal injury or severe diarrhea, and anion-gap acidoses such as diabetic ketoacidosis and lactic acidosis. The workup and management of these conditions can vary significantly depending on the underlying pathology. Therefore, in order to tackle these consults, it is important to have an understanding of the physiology and etiology of metabolic acidosis.
"Review of Clinical Disorders Causing Metabolic Acidosis"
by Michael Emmett
This article provides an overview of physiology and clinical conditions causing metabolic acidosis.
The Run List Podcast
This podcast from “Run the List” features a discussion of acid-base disorders generally (including a case with a mixed disorder), and it especially focuses on working through metabolic acidosis.
Renal Fellow Network
This case on the Renal Fellow Network will walk you through multiple causes of acidosis (and review the workup) in a single patient’s hospital course.
NephSim
Try working through this case of an acute emergency presenting with an acid-base disturbance.
NephSim
This case also will allow you to work up an acid-base pathology with increasing incidence over the last few years.