Lab Case 81 – Interpretation

A young man with acute pancreatitis presents with

Acute mixed acid base disorder:

Respiratory acidosis – altered mental state, sedation due to opiate therapy

normal anion gap metabolic acidosis –

hypernatraemia, hyperchloraemia

hypokalaemia

Consider:  0.9% Saline, RTA (chronic NSAID use), Pancraetic fistula, Addisons’s (unlikely)