Base Excess
Used in assessing acid-base status
About
Base excess is defined as the amount of strong acid that must be added to each liter of fully oxygenated blood to return the pH to 7.40 at a temperature of 37°C and a pCO2 of 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa), while a base deficit (ie. a negative base excess) is defined by the amount of strong base that must be added.
The formula for base deficit is as follows:
Base excess = 0.02786 X pCO2 X 10^(pH - 6.1) + 13.77 X pH - 124.58
References
Siggaard-Andersen O.
By using this site you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to be bound by our terms of use and privacy policy. All content and tools are for educational use only, are not meant to be a substitute for professional advice and should not be used for medical diagnosis and/or medical treatment.