In this month’s Best Case Ever on EM Cases Dr. Ross Claybo and Dr. Keerat Grewal tell the story of a patient with a complicated anion gap metabolic acidosis. We discuss how to sort through the differential diagnosis with a better mnemonic than MUDPILES, the controversy around administering sodium bicarbonate for metabolic acidosis, the indications for fomepizole and the value of taking time to to build a therapeutic relationship with your ED patients.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:45 — 19.0MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
Podcast production and sound design by Anton Helman. Show notes by Anton Helman, March 2017
The MUDPILES mnemonic for anion gap metabolic acidosis is out of date
Why?
- Metabolic acidosis due to paraldehyde overdose is exceedingly rare
- Iron and isoniazid are just two of many drugs and toxins that cause hypotension and lactic acidosis (isoniazid can also generate a component of ketoacidosis).
- Three “newer” anion-gap-generating acids have been recognised recently:
- D-lactic acid, which can occur in some patients with short bowel syndromes.
- 5-oxoproline (or pyroglutamic acid) associated with chronic acetaminophen use.
- Propylene glycol infusions – solvent used for several IV medications including lorazepam and phenobarbital.
The GOLDMARK mnemonic for anion gap metabolic acidosis is more useful
GOLDMARK mnemonic for anion gap metabolic acidosis |
---|
Glycols (ethylene glycol & propylene glycol)
Oxoproline (metabolite of acetaminophen) L-lactate D-lactate (acetaminophen, short bowel syndrome, propylene glycol infusions for lorazepam and phenobarbital) Methanol ASA Renal Failure Ketoacidosis (starvation, alcohol and DKA) |
Download PDF of GOLDMARK mnemonic
Osmolar Gap common differential diagnosis
Ketoacids (DKA, AKA, starvation ketosis)
Alcohols
Sepsis
Ischemia
Sodium bicarbonate for metabolic acidosis: Still controversial
The indcations for sodium bicarb for metabolic acidosis are controversial with no evidence in the human literature that it decreases mortality. The traditional treatment is based on adverse effects of metabolic acidosis on animal subjects at pH less than 7.1 including acute decrease in cardiac contractility, arteriole dilatation and hypotension, decreased O2 delivery to tissues, arrhythmias and decreased immunity. This needs to be weighed against the potential adverse effects of sodium bicarbonate administration, which include increased CSF intracellular acidosis, volume overload, increased osmolarity and decreased ionized Ca.
Drs Helman, Claybo and Grewal have no conflicts of interest to declare
References
Mehta AN, Emmett JB, Emmett M. GOLD MARK: an anion gap mnemonic for the 21st century. Lancet. 2008;372(9642):892.
Forsythe SM, Schmidt GA. Sodium bicarbonate for the treatment of lactic acidosis. Chest. 2000;117(1):260-7.
Other FOAMed Resources on Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis
Rob Orman and Sean Nordt discuss the nuances of working up an anion gap metabolic acidosis on ERCAST
Could the profound metabolic acidosis been contributed by metformins lactic acidosis production?
This is a great Mnemonic – however what I missed right away is salicylates ?!
[…] Learn more about AG metabolic acidosis in Best Case Ever 56 Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis […]