Appropriate Evaluation of Blood Lactate Concentration

Abstract

Blood lactate concentration is now commonly used as an indicator of mortality and morbidity, especially in patients with sepsis and after cardiac surgery. When elevated blood lactate levels are observed, the impact of surgical procedures and drugs as well as tissue hypoxia and the enhancement of anaerobic metabolism need to be considered. Recently, the lactate shuttle theory that lactate is used as an energy source in skeletal muscle, heart, and brain has received a lot of attention. It is more important to identify and deal with the cause of elevated blood lactate concentrations than make an effort to decrease the blood lactate level itself.