Acid-base balance revisited: Stewart and strong ions

Abstract

Understanding acid-base physiology is a core requirement for anesthesiologists and intensivists and other physicians responsible for the care of critically ill and injured. Despite a long history, clinical acid-base physiology remains a confusing area for many clinicians and numerous misconceptions exist. The application of principles of physical chemistry to clinical acid-base physiology allows for a valuable new perspective on an old problem and may provide important insights.