Acid-Base Physiology
Review by the "American Thoracic Society"
Summary: Overall, this is an excellent site, and should be a first stop for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge of acid-base disorders.
This primarily anesthesia-oriented site created by Kerry Brandis has a comprehensive tutorial composed of 11 chapters beginning with simple acid-base concepts which then segues to a lengthy discussion of each of the major acid-base disorders, finally ending with a case file series of 30-odd acid-base problems that are great for reproduction and teaching purposes.
Authority: Dr. Brandis is a clinical professor of anesthesiology at Gold Coast Hospital in Queensland, Australia. He compiled his lecture notes from decades of teaching medical students and residents and combined them into this website. Rating: 4
Currency: The discussion generally reflects current thinking about these diseases. The Bostonian method has been in place for decades, but the use of bicarbonate in metabolic acidosis covered here accurately reflects the controversial nature of its use in today’s clinical practice. The website has recently undergone a major renovation, the clinical cases that are added semi-regularly. Rating: 4
Accuracy: All formulae are referenced to their original publications. The history of acid-base is consistent with other texts’ accounts, as are the etiologies and treatments of above acid-base disorders. Rating: 5
Navigation & Readability: The website is user-friendly. The above link points to the main page listing the chapters, from which you can cycle through in order, or come back to the main menu for points of interest. Rating: 4
Utility: The site is extremely useful for students, fellows or practitioners needing a starting point, a refresher, or case examples for teaching Rating: 5