Positive Base Excess

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

pone

Full Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
23
Reaction score
0
In a venous blood gas, when is a positive value for Base Excess ever used? I understand in general how many critical care physicians will use a negative base excess to indicate the presence of an acidosis, and maybe to help make a calculation for bicarb when that is indicated. But positive base excess would indicate excess base. Is positive base excess ever used?

Could a positive base excess be used to just build an index of suspicion for some metabolic condition? Assume pH is normal. For example, in a urea cycle disorder, during a crisis and metabolic decompensation there is a surge in plasma ammonia. Outside of a crisis, the urea cycle is working (in spite of partial enzyme defects) through metabolic compensations to keep ammonia in balance. The ammonia ends up hinting at its presence in other markers, such as in high glutamine. Would a positive base excess > +3 mmol/L be a possible marker for some pressure on metabolism from a base like ammonia?

Members don't see this ad.
 
Last edited:
Top