ABG interpretation Flashcards
What is a simple acid base disorder?
When there is only one primary disorder
What are examples of simple acid base disorder?
Respiratory or metabolic disorders
What should be assessed with simple acid base disorders?
acuteness
What is mixed acid base disorder?
When there are two or more primary disorders present at the same time
What should be assessed with mixed base disorder?
- Compensation
- Appropriate compensation
Define acidemia.
Lower than normal arterial blood pH
Define alkalemia.
Higher than normal arterial blood pH
Define acidosis.
- A process that tends to acidify body fluids and may lead to acidemia.
- Could result from metabolic or respiratory dysfunction or compensatory response
Define alkalosis.
- A process that tends to alkalinize body fluids and may lead to alkalemia.
- Could result from metabolic or respiratory dysfunction or compensatory response
What acidosis and alkalosis may or may not be associated with?
with abnormal pH in the same direction…
Define metabolic acidosis.
HCO3 <24 or Anion Gap >12
Define metabolic alkalosis.
HCO3 >24
Define respiratory alkalosis.
PCO2 <40 or PCO2 less than expected for primary metabolic abnormali
Define respiratory acidosis.
PCO2 >40 or PCO2 higher than expected for primary metabolic abnormality
Define high anion gap.
> 12-20 always indicates primary metabolic acidosis
Anion gap greater than 12 __________ indicates primary metabolic acidosis
always
We do not compensate for abnormality of one system with compensation by the _______
same system
Compensatory response never brings the pH back to _________
Normal
Compensation: How does arterial pH normalize?
Tends to return ratio of HCO3 to PCO2 back toward normal and therefore normalize the arterial pH
Compensation: Is pH returned to normal?
Does not return pH to normal except in primary respiratory alkalosis of chronic duration
Compensation: What is required for compensation to work?
Requires normal function of kidneys and lungs
What does lack of appropriate compensation suggest?
second primary disorder
What does compensatory response create?
second lab abnormality
Appropriate degree of compensation can be ________
predicted
How much of volatile acids are produced daily?
12,000 to 15,000 mEq of volatile acids are produced daily by the body and excreted as CO2 by lungs
How much non volatile acids are produced daily?
1 mEq/kg/day of non-volatile acids (sulfuric and phosphoric acids) are produced daily by the body and excreted by the kidneys
What determines the pH of fluid?
determined by the amount of acid produced, the buffering capacity and the acid excretion by the lungs and kidneys
What are the most important buffers in the body? (3)
hemoglobin, plasma proteins and bicarbonate
What is the acute compensation for respiratory acidosis?
10mmHg increase in PCO2 leads to 1mEq/L increase in HCO3
What is the chronic compensation for respiratory acidosis?
10mmHg increase in PCO2 lead to 3-3.5mEq/L increase in HCO3
What is the acute compensation for respiratory alkalosis?
10mmHg decrease in PCO2 leads to 2mEq/L decrease in HCO3
What is the chronic compensation for respiratory alkalosis?
10mmHg decrease in PCO2 leads to 4-5mEq/L decrease in HCO3
What is the compensation for metabolic acidosis?
PCO2 = Last 2 digits of pH
What is the compensation for metabolic alkalosis?
1 mEq/L increase in HCO3 leads to 0.6-0.7mmHg increase in PCO2
What is the acid base equation for changes in pH in acute respiratory acidosis and acute respiratory alkalosis?
= [0.08 x (PaCO2 - 40)] ÷ 10
What is the acid base equation for Change in pH in chronic respiratory acidosis and chronic respiratory alkalosis?
= [0.03 x (PaCO2 - 40)] ÷ 10
What is the acid base equation for expected PCO2 in primary metabolic acidosis?
= [HCO3 x 1.5] + 8 +/-2
Define anion.
a negatively charged ion
What is a normal albumin range?
3.4 to 5.4g/dL
What is the anion gap formula?
AG = (Na+) – (Cl- + HCO3-) = 12 +/- 2
What does the anion gap measure?
Estimates unmeasured anions
What is the normal anion gap?
8-12
When may the anion gap be underestimated?
Hypoalbuminemia, Albumin is a negatively charged protein and its loss from serum results in retention of other negatively charged ions, e.g. chloride and bicarbonate