I have spoken about it for a while, but I've finally gotten it done: the acid-base podcast.

The podcast is going to be in 5 parts. They are segmented from a lecture I gave to my residents recently.

* Part I lays out the background of the quantitative approach

* Part II puts it in mathematical terms to allow calculation of acid base status

* Part III takes you through some real world examples

* Part IV discusses the Acid-Base Effects of IV Fluids

* Part V specifically discusses some of the Bicarb Controversy

The Acid Base Series

EMCrit Podcast – Acid Base Ep. 7 – Bicarb Updates, Quantitative Approach, and Prof. David StoryPodcast 97 – Acid-Base VI – Chloride-Free SodiumPodcast 96 – Acid Base in the Critically Ill – Part V – Enough with the Bicarb AlreadyEMCrit Podcast 50 – Acid Base Part IV – Choose the Solution Based on the ProblemEMCrit Podcast 46 – Acid Base: Part IIIEMCrit Podcast 45 – Acid Base: Part IIEMCrit Podcast 44 – Acid Base: Part I

For the next part of the series, you will need a print out of this sheet:

EMCrit Acid-Base Sheet

 

This lecture discusses a quantitative approach to acid base management. This is also known  as the Fencl-Stewart approach, the strong-ion approach or the physicochemical approach. It provides explanations for why acid base disorders occur in human pathophysiology. The classic method used in the USA is the Henderson-Hasselbalch (misspelled on my slides) approach. I find this method to provide no comprehensive explanation for why things are as they are. Through the quantitative approach, you can also understand the H&H approach and continue to use it with new insight.

This first part deals with the preliminaries. Part II will go into clinical applications.

For the next part of the series, you will need a print out of this sheet:

EMCrit Acid-Base Sheet

Want to read more?

* AcidBase.org

* Anaesthetist.com

* facing-acid-base-disorders-in-the-third-millennium

* Propofology Quick-Ref PDF

After listening to the podcasts, I recommend reading these articles

* Kaplan LJ,Frangos S. Clinical review: Acid–base abnormalities in the intensive care unit. (Critical Care 2005;9(2):198)