EXPLAINING SIMPLY

....HOW to calculate BE (base excess or deficit)? ....it requires to know pH, which stands for "potential of hydrogen ion" and is defined as the negative logarithm to the base 10 of hydrogen ion concentration. ....normal pH is 7.35 - 7.45 and the normal hydrogen ion concentration is 40 nmol/L. ....Base excess/deficit of +/- 2 mEq/L is normal. A positive number is called a base excess and indicates a metabolic alkalosis and a negative number is called a base deficit and indicates a metabolic acidosis. Base Excess / Base Deficit --------------------------- Calculation of the base excess or deficit is a way of quantifying HCO3 requirement! ...."Base excess is the quantity of base (HCO3 mEq/L) that is above or below the normal range of buffer base in the body (22 -28 mEq/L). This cannot be calculated from PCO2 and pH alone as the hemoglobin also contributes to the buffer base. One can use the Siggaard-Andersen nomogram to estimate base excess or deficit. Another