(2.2) Acid/Base Disorders [CIS-Selby]

Question 1

Stepwise approach to determining acid-base disturbance

Answer 1

1. Determine if acidosis/alkalosis present
2. Determine metabolic/respiratory
3. If Metabolic Acidosis, calculate anion gap
   - if hypoalbuminemia present, calculate corrected AG
   - If HAGMA, calculate osmolar gap for alcohol ingestion
   - If HAGMA, calculate Delta-delta for additional NAGMA or metabolic alkalosis
4. Calculate appropriate compensation for primary acid-base disorder
   - if appropriate = simple acid-base disorder
   - if inappropriate = mixed acid-base disorder

Question 2

What kind of acid-base disorder can exercise or pregnancy cause?

Answer 2

Respiratory alkalosis

(anything that increases respiratory rate or tidal volume)