Assessment of Metabolic Acidosis and the use of Albumin-Corrected Plasmatic Anion Gap in Critically III Patients

Acid-base derangements are among the most common abnormalities seen in critically ill patients [1]. They are generally associated with clinical outcome and disease severity, especially for metabolic acidosis [1,2]. Thus, understanding the nature of these disorders is fundamental to the practice of critical care medicine. The classical approach to acid-base disorders is based on the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation that lies on the law of mass action and the equilibrium in the carbonic acid-bicarbonate buffer system, which is fundamental to the respiratory and renal control of pH. It is mathematically expressed by the following equation: