Research Article
Using pCO2 Gap in the Differential Diagnosis of Hyperlactatemia Outside the Context of Sepsis: A Physiological Review and Case Series
Table 1
Case series of patients with different causes of elevated lactate.
| | Case | Lac (a) (mmol/L) | SaO2 (%) | ScvO2 (%) | pCO2 gap (kPa) | RER | Type of lactic acidosis and timing of diagnosis | Evidence for classifying hyperlactataemia as either A or B |
| | #1 | 3.4 | 99 | 68 | 1.02 | 1.86 | A—a posteriori | Peroperative finding | | #2 | 5.3 | 99 | 71 | 1.06 | 1.58 | A—a posteriori | Peroperative finding | | #3 | 7.2 | 100 | 58 | 1.38 | 2.5 | A—a priori | Consensus of clinicians | | #4 | 17.0 | 99 | 79 | 0.37 | 1.14 | B—a priori | Consensus of clinicians | | #5 | 7.4 | 94 | 76 | 0.30 | 0.78 | B—a posteriori | Consensus of clinicians | | #6 | 12.8 | 99 | 72 | 0.30 | 0.71 | B—a posteriori | Consensus of clinicians |
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Note: Lac a = lactate (arterial); RER = respiratory exchange ratio calculated as per equation ( 5). |
