RESULTS
Of the total of 49 patients audited, 28 patients (57%) were
male (Table 2). The median age of patients was 63 years
(range 18–87). Thirty patients (61%) had hyperchloraemia
on intensive care unit admission with a median serum
chloride concentration of 108 mmol/L (range 87–123).
Thirty-two (65%) patients had a negative base excess
(base deficit) above -2 mEq/L and 11 (23%) patients had
a bicarbonate level below 22 mmol/L. The median daily
amount of chloride administered was 88.5 mmol (range
0–732). The median amount of total sodium administered
was 93.8 mmol/L (range 0–817) and the median plasma
albumin level was 26 g/L (range 9–39)