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Base deficit

June 3, 2026 by
Base deficit
TCAR Education Programs, Stephen Von Weller
The amount of base required (in mEq) to titrate a liter of arterial blood up to a pH of 7.40. When adding a base is necessary, the patient has a base deficit. When the base level is already high ( >7.40), the patient has a base excess. Base status is used as a marker of aerobic/anaerobic metabolism to guide fluid resuscitation.
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