OBSERVATIONS ON CARBON DIOXIDE TENSION DURING RECOVERY FROM METABOLIC ACIDOSIS1

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Abstract
Observations on the whole blood pH, plasma total CO2 content and calculated pCO2 have been made on patients recovering from metabolic acidosis due to diabetes, diarrhea and uremia. A normal or alkaline blood pH frequently occurred in association with a depressed pCO2. There is probably sustained hyper-ventilation on the part of such patients even though they are no longer acidotic. Such patients probably have an increased sensitivity of the respiratory center to pCO2 and/or hydrogen ion to account for the continuing hyperventilation.
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