Metabolic Acidosis: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination–including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae (white part of the eye).
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart [bradycardia (heartbeat too slow: < 60 beats per minute)]
    • Auscultation of the lungs [hyperventilation – increased breathing; acidosis breathing – deep breathing, so-called kissing mouth breathing]
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knocking pain?)
  • Health check

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.