Electrolytes and acid–base
Winter's formula
Expected respiratory compensation range for an established metabolic acidosis.
Intended population: Metabolic acidosis with bicarbonate 7–22 mmol/L, the range where this approximation performs best.
- Compare with measured arterial PaCO₂ and the full acid–base assessment to assess mixed disorders. Does not diagnose acidosis or specify ventilator settings; severe acidosis outside this range requires a different assessment.
Sources and scoring references
National Kidney Foundation: High Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis, Core Curriculum 2021 ↗Implementation references reviewed October 28, 2026. Verify applicability and unusual or treatment-changing results against the linked references and local guidance.