anything done or to be done; anything requiring action or effort; business; concern: an affair of great importance. 2. affairs, matters of commercial or public interest or concern; the transactions of public or private business or finance:
Hyperlactatemia is defined as a persistent, mild to moderate (2-4 mmol/L) increase in blood lactate concentration without metabolic acidosis, whereas lactic acidosis is characterized by persistently increased blood lactate levels (usually >5 mmol/L) in association with metabolic acidosis.
Trends in lactate levels have more prognostic implications than does a single value. Patient monitoring has advanced beyond measuring heart rate and temperature. Parameters such as blood pressure, pulse oximetry, arterial blood gases, and urine output are consistently being monitored more closely, especially in critically ill patients.