Final answer:
The treatment of acidosis with intravenous lactate is falsely attributed as a rapid remedy. In medical emergencies involving acidosis, bicarbonate is often administered intravenously as it directly buffers blood's pH. Isotonic solutions are administered to avoid red blood cell damage due to osmotic imbalances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that acidosis can be rapidly treated by the intravenous administration of lactate is false. Although lactate can be used in some treatments, it's important to understand that lactate needs to be metabolized to bicarbonate in the liver before it can help to buffer the blood's pH. In acute acidosis, treatments usually involve the administration of bicarbonate or other alkalizing agents directly.
For example, in cases like the ingestion of a large amount of lemon juice causing metabolic acidosis, an intravenous solution of bicarbonate is administered. The bicarbonate acts as a buffer, neutralizing excess acid in the blood and rapidly improving the patient's condition.
An isotonic intravenous solution, such as normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution, is crucial in medical treatments as it has the same osmolarity as the blood. Administering an isotonic solution ensures that the red blood cells do not swell or burst, which would occur with a hypotonic solution, or shrink, which would occur with a hypertonic solution.