Abstract

CAMPUZANO VALDES, Álvaro; ALONSO DIAZ, Tammy; CHAVEZ PEREZ, Ernesto  and  GONZALEZ CABALLERO, Elizabeth. Acid-base imbalance in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2001, vol.30, suppl.5, pp.9-12. ISSN 0138-6557.

For assessing the frequency of occurrence and lethality of acid-base disorders diagnosed in the intensive care unit, a prospective study was performed with 100 consecutive patients admitted to the ICU as of November 1st, 1999. One thousand and one hundred eight arterial hemogasometry reports were obtained and these results were grouped according to documented disorders. It was proved that 76% of the studied patients showed acid-base imbalance with marginal predominance of mixed types. Simple respiratory alkalosis (27,6%) and the combination of the former and the metabolic acidosis(22,7 %) were the most common combinations. All the disorders, except for simple respiratory alkalosis and simple respiratory acidosis, showed a lethality rate equal to or higher than 65 %, the association of respiratory acidosis with metabolic alkalosis (89%) was significant. Chi square technique was used for statistical validation; p< 0,05) was considered to be significant. These results indicated the need for early prevention and treatment of acid-base imbalances in intensive care units.

Keywords : ACID-BASE IMBALANCE [mortality]; ALKALOSIS, RESPIRATORY; ACIDOSIS; INTENSIVE CARE UNITS.

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