E-ISSN 2617-9784 | ISSN 2617-1791
 

Brief Report
Online Published: 17 Nov 2024
 


Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan

Sweta Giri , Sherab Wangdi, Shankar Levine, Melanie Watts, Ugyen Tshering.


Abstract
Background: Severe metabolic acidosis is a critical diagnosis for which prompt identification of underlying cause and resuscitation is crucial to prevent its high morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to help determine the etiology and observe effective treatments of severe acidosis after the authors observed a number of adult patients with a history of alcohol consumption presenting to the Emergency Department, who on evaluation had severe metabolic acidosis.
Methods: This was an observational study where all patients with severe metabolic acidosis admitted to the emergency department during the study period were included. Data regarding the clinical features, treatment provided, and outcomes were collected from medical records.
Result: 38 patients were included in the study. Most participants presented with symptoms of shortness of breath, abdominal pain and vomiting. 23 participants (60.5%) had a history of chronic alcohol use while 13 (34.2%) reported binge drinking. The most common diagnoses were alcoholic ketoacidosis, sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis and acute renal injury. Among patients without AKA, the mean lactate among patients who did not survive to discharge was 11.6. In contrast, amongst patients with AKA the initial mean lactate was 17 among those who survived to discharge.
Conclusion: Identifying severe metabolic acidosis and its underlying cause is important to improve the survival of patients presenting to the emergency department. This small study raises the question that perhaps the initial lactate does not carry prognostic value in patients with AKA and lactate levels may be further elevated in areas of greater thiamine deficiency.

Key words: Acidosis, Alcoholic ketoacidosis, Bhutan, Lactate.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

SG, Wangdi S, Levine S, Watts M, Tshering U, . Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. SAJEM. Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102


Web Style

SG, Wangdi S, Levine S, Watts M, Tshering U, . Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. https://www.sajem.org/?mno=172314 [Access: November 18, 2024]. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

SG, Wangdi S, Levine S, Watts M, Tshering U, . Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. SAJEM. Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

SG, Wangdi S, Levine S, Watts M, Tshering U, . Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. SAJEM, [cited November 18, 2024]; Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102



Harvard Style

, S. G., Wangdi, S., Levine, S., Watts, M., Tshering, U. & (2024) Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. SAJEM, Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102



Turabian Style

, Sweta Giri, Sherab Wangdi, Shankar Levine, Melanie Watts, Ugyen Tshering, and . 2024. Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. South Asian Journal of Emergency Medicine, Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102



Chicago Style

, Sweta Giri, Sherab Wangdi, Shankar Levine, Melanie Watts, Ugyen Tshering, and . "Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan." South Asian Journal of Emergency Medicine Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

, Sweta Giri, Sherab Wangdi, Shankar Levine, Melanie Watts, Ugyen Tshering, and . "Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan." South Asian Journal of Emergency Medicine Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. Web. 18 Nov 2024 doi:10.5455/sajem.050102



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

, S. G., Wangdi, S., Levine, S., Watts, M., Tshering, U. & (2024) Clinical profile of patients with severe metabolic acidosis in the emergency department of the National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. South Asian Journal of Emergency Medicine, Online First: 17 Nov, 2024. doi:10.5455/sajem.050102