BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS AND ACID-BASE DISORDERS: ANALYTICAL CHALLENGES, CLINICAL INTERPRETATION AND DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT

Blood gas analysis and the assessment of acid-base balance constitute one of the fundamental scientific tools enabling the dynamic monitoring of tissue perfusion, microcirculation, and cellular metabolism in critical care management. Despite rapid advancements in analytical technologies and the understanding of molecular mechanisms today, knowledge regarding analytical methods, pathophysiological patterns, and dynamic clinical assessment frequently exhibits a fragmented structure in the current literature. Physicians and researchers continue to face significant challenges in the analytical interpretation of data and its scientific integration with complex clinical scenarios. This volume, titled “BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS AND ACID-BASE DISORDERS: Analytical Challenges, Clinical Interpretation and Dynamic Assessment,” presents a multidisciplinary scientific synthesis aimed at addressing this lack of a holistic approach in the literature. The primary objective of our book is not merely to provide a general overview of the subject, but rather to bring together current evidence, analytical challenges, and diverse evaluation approaches from a critical perspective. Our work is structured into three main sections. While the first section examines physiological foundations and analytical methods, traditional approaches and advanced systems, such as the Stewart method, are comparatively evaluated in light of current evidence. The second section discusses the pathophysiological patterns of metabolic and respiratory acid-base disorders, particularly centering on the diagnostic challenges of complex and overlapping disturbances. The third section addresses dynamic acid-base alterations in complex conditions, including toxicological emergencies, renal failure, respiratory failure, and sepsis. Throughout the volume, while analyzing the prognostic impacts of dynamic clinical assessment, especially in critical illness, a strong emphasis has been placed on the limitations of current evidence and controversial points in the literature. This book also aims to highlight unresolved scientific questions in areas such as analytical accuracy, the interpretation of complex mixed disorders, and the prognostic value of lactic acidosis. We envision that the research gaps and analytical approaches identified in this work will lay the groundwork for generating new hypotheses for future multicenter clinical trials and academic research. We would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to all our contributing authors, whose academic rigor and critical approaches have deepened the scientific content in the realization of this book. We hope that our volume will serve as a valuable reference point that advances current scientific discussions for researchers, academicians, and specialist physicians across all relevant disciplines, primarily intensive care, nephrology, emergency and respiratory medicine. Editors Hüseyin Levent YAMANEL MD, Professor Gürhan TAŞKIN MD, Associate Professor