Acid-base disturbances in the salicylate-intoxicated adult

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Of 67 patients, 66 had an acid-base disturbance. Only 25% of the patients had simple respiratory alkalosis. Unlike salicylate intoxication in children, 33% of these adults with salicylate intoxication had ingested additional drugs. These additional drugs generally were CNS depressants and were important determinants of the variety of the acid-base disturbance. Those patients who ingested additional drugs had a significantly lower incidence of respiratory alkalosis (P < .005) and a higher incidence of respiratory acidosis (P < .005) and acidemia (P < .025). The incidence of acidemia correlated with the presence of neurological symptoms.