How to Read Anion Gap in Critical Shock
What Is the Anion Gap and Why Does It Matter in Shock? The anion gap is a helpful way to look for hidden acids in the blood and to distinguish causes of metabolic acidosis during shock . In clinical practice, it is part of a broader acid-base interpretation that starts with the electrolytes in a standard serum chemistry panel. When tissue oxygen delivery drops, the body may shift toward anaerobic pathways and produce acid, making the anion gap a useful diagnos