To treat metabolic acidosis, which is the most direct intervention?

• A. Oxygenate and ventilate
• B. Give bicarbonate
• C. Administer diuretics
• D. Administer insulin

Answer: (B)

Metabolic acidosis is a state where there is too much acid or too little bicarbonate in the blood, lowering pH. The most direct way to correct this imbalance is to administer bicarbonate itself. Adding bicarbonate directly increases the buffering capacity, neutralizes excess hydrogen ions, and quickly raises the pH toward normal.

Oxygenation and ventilation address the respiratory side of acid-base balance and can help if there’s a concurrent respiratory problem, but they don’t fix the underlying bicarbonate deficit. Diuretics don’t correct acidosis and can worsen it by promoting bicarbonate loss. Insulin can treat ketoacidosis by reducing ketone production, but it’s not the immediate direct fix for metabolic acidosis from other causes.