Base excess in the other. A secondary (compensatory) process can be readily identified because it "opposes" the observed deviation in blood pH. For example, inadequate ventilation, a respiratory problem, causes a buildup of CO, hence respiratory acidosis; the kidneys then attempt to compensate for the low pH by raising blood bicarbonate. The kidneys only partially compensate, so the patient may still have a low blood pH, i.e. acidosis. In summary, the kidneys partially compensate for respiratory acidosis by raising blood bicarbonate. A high base excess, thus metabolic alkalosis, usually involves an excess of bicarbonate. It can be caused by A base deficit
Base excess (a below-normal base excess), thus metabolic acidosis, usually involves either excretion of bicarbonate or neutralization of bicarbonate by excess organic acids. Common causes include The serum anion gap is useful for determining whether a base deficit is caused by addition of acid or loss of bicarbonate. Base excess In physiology, base excess and base deficit refer to an excess or deficit, respectively, in the amount of base present in the blood. The value is usually reported as a concentration in units of mEq/L, with positive numbers indicating an excess of base and negative a deficit. A typical reference range for