Lactate, bicarbonate and anion gap for evaluation of patients presenting with sepsis to the emergency department: A prospective cohort study.
Biswadev MitraCristina Petronela RomanKate E ChartersGerard Michael O'ReillyDashiell GantnerPeter A CameronPublished in: Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA (2019)
A normal lactate level alone should not be used to exclude life-threatening sepsis. Patients with metabolic acidosis characterised by low bicarbonate or high AG levels, but with normal lactate levels, have high rates of ICU requirement and mortality and should also be considered for early, aggressive therapy.