Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Lactic acidosis physical examination
Introduction
Overview
Overview
There are no specific signs to determine lactic acidosis but its cause may be evaluated via thorough examination.
- Look for signs of hypovolemic, cardiogenic, septic or toxic shock.
- To classify the lactic acidosis look for signs of tissue hypoperfusion such as hypotension, tachypnea, confusion, peripheral shutdown (check capillary refill) and oliguria.
- Look for evidence of a septic focus and hyperthermia (hypothermia in advanced sepsis).
- Kussmaul’s breathing may occur in cases of severe acidosis being compensated by respiratory effort.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saud Khan M.D.