abg

Question 1

Acidosis

Answer 1

down

Question 2

Alkalosis

Answer 2

up

Question 3

PH- up- Patient up

Answer 3

1. body system gets more irritable

2. hyper-excitable, alkalosis, hyper-reflexive(+3, +4)2 is normal, tachypnea, tachycardia, seizure.

Question 4

PH-down-Patient down

Answer 4

body systems shuts. down, acidosis, hypo-reflexive, bradycardia, lethargy, obtuded(lethargic), paralytic ileum, respiratory arrest.

Question 5

Which acid base base disorder needs an ambulance bag at the bedside?

Answer 5

Acidosis( because of respiratory arrest).

Question 6

Which acid base disorder need suction at the bedside?

Answer 6

Alkalosis (seize and aspirate)

Question 7

Mac Kussmaul

Answer 7

Kussmaul’s (compensatory respiratory mechanism) is only present in only 1 of the 4 metabolic (acid-base) disorders

* M = metabolic AC = acidosis


Question 8

Causes of Acid-Base Imbalance:

Answer 8

low pressure alarm = decreased resistance 
 to airflow (the machine had to work too little 
 to push air into lungs)

- from disconnections:

i. main tubing (reconnect it duh!)

ii. O2 sensor tubing (which senses FiO2 at 

the airway/trach area; black coated wire 
 coming from machine right along the 
 tubing - reconnect!)

Question 9

Resp. alkalosis

Answer 9

ventilation settings might be


set too high (OVER-VENTILATING)


Question 10

Resp. acidosis

Answer 10

ventilation settings might be set 
too low (UNDER-VENTILATING)

Question 11

ex. weaning a PT off ventilator

Answer 11

should not be

under-ventilated, they need the ventilator; if they are over-ventilating then they can be weaned

Question 12

metabolic alkalosis

Answer 12

if the PT has prolonged gastric vomiting/suctioning
 - because you are losing ACID

* ex. GI surgery w/ NG tube with suctioning for 
 3 days; hyperemesis graviderum

Question 13

metabolic acidosis

Answer 13

ex. hyperemesis graviderum w/dehydration 
 acute renal failure, infantile diarrhea

Question 14

high pressure alarm

Answer 14

increased resistance 
 to airflow (the machine has to push too hard to 
 get air into lungs)

- from obstructions: 

i. kinks in tubing (unkink it)

ii. water condensation in tube (empty it!)

iii. mucous secretions in the airway (change 

positions/turn, C&DB, and THEN suction)
 *** suction is only PRN!!!

-> priority questions = you would check 
 kinks first, suction is not first


Question 15

low pressure alarm

Answer 15

decreased resistance 
 to airflow (the machine had to work too little 
 to push air into lungs)

- from disconnections:

i. main tubing (reconnect it duh!)

ii. O2 sensor tubing (which senses FiO2 at 

the airway/trach area; black coated wire 
 coming from machine right along the 
 tubing - reconnect!)

Question 16

ventilators

Answer 16

now blood gases

- resp. alkalosis = ventilation settings might be


set too high (OVER-VENTILATING)

- resp. acidosis = ventilation settings might be set 

too low (UNDER-VENTILATING)
• ex. weaning a PT off ventilator -> should not be
under-ventilated, they need the ventilator; if they are over-ventilating then they can be weaned