The trouble with bicarbonate! (A brief review of Stewart Approach for interpreting acid-base disorders).

It is surprising that in the 21st century clinicians still associate levels of Bicarbonate with acidosis or alkalosis and believe that low Bicarbonate 'is in itself the cause of acidosis and vice versa'. Its levels are used to 'diagnose' acidosis or alkalosis. These 'traditional' methods of acid-base interpretation have various limitations. The Stewart approach allows for proper quantification of the disorder as well as pointing towards appropriate therapeutic options.