Log-Jam in Acid-Base Education and Investigation: Why Make it so Difficult?

Abstract

Medical students frequently have difficulty in interpreting acid-base data particularly when pH values are used. The difficulty persists when students qualify and has implications for the safe management of patients who require investigation of acid-base status. Simplification of tuition is required together with a change of practice in the reporting of acid-base data by the laboratories. To improve understanding, we recommend that the teaching and reporting of acid-base status should be changed to use [H⁺] instead of pH, and a greater emphasis placed on the logical interpretation of primary measurements—that is [H⁺] and PCO₂-with less reliance on derived variables.