Lactic acidosis: pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment.

Lactic acidosis is common in severely ill patients. We describe four patients with a lactic acidosis combined with other acid-base disturbances. In daily practice it is important to consider these combined disturbances since there is no specific treatment in lactic acidosis. Treating the underlying causes of the acid-base disturbances is the only warranted intervention. However, lactic acidosis is still associated with high mortality.