Acid/Base Flashcards
pH below ____ or above ____ is not compatible withlife
6.8 or 7.8
3 main mechanisms for compensating c pH changes
physiological buffers
pulmonary compensation
renal compensation
main buffer system
bicarbonate-carbonic acid
we eliminate CO2/carbonic acid by…
breathing
pulmonary compensation controls the amount of _____ in blood
CO2
__________ increases elimination of CO2, and pH _____
hyperventilation
rises
__________ decreases elimination of CO2, and pH _____
hypoventilation
falls
best control mechanism for pH, but not immediate
renal
2 mechanisms of renal compensation
Modify excretion rate of acids
Modify bicarbonate absorption/creation
ABGs measure… (6)
Partial pressure oxygen - PaO2 Partial pressure carbon dioxide - PaCO2 pH Oxygen content - O2CT Oxygen saturation - SaO2 Bicarbonate - HCO3
2 bodily functions that ABGs indicate
Acid-base balance of blood
Oxygenation of blood
is acidosis or alkalosis more common?
acidosis
4 types of acid-base imbalance
metabolic acidosis
metabolic alkalosis
respiratory acidosis
respiratory alkalosis
an increase in CO2
respiratory acidosis
resp. acidosis caused by…
alveolar hypoventilation
opioid ingestion, other drugs that depress respiration, COPD
ABGs seen in resp. acidosis
high CO2
normal or high HCO3
resp. acidosis s/s
diaphoresis (sweating); h/a; tachycardia; confusion; restlessness; apprehension
a decrease in CO2
respiratory alkalosis
resp. alkalosis caused by…
excess CO2 excretion
hypoxia (high altitudes, fever, seizure)
hyperventilation (mechanical overventilation, hepatic disease, pregnancy, septicemia, fever, anxiety, aspirin overdose, head injury, brain tumor)
ABGs seen in resp. alkalosis
low CO2
normal or low HCO3
resp. alkalosis s/s
light-headed; confusion; paresthesia; cramps; syncope; anxiety; fear; deep breathing
a decrease in HCO3
metabolic acidosis
met. acidosis caused by…
excess production of acids OR excessive loss of bicarbonate, K, Na
ABGs seen in met. acidosis
low HCO3
normal or low CO2
met. acidosis s/s
rapid deep breathing; fatigue; fruity breath (DKA); h/a; drowsiness; lethargy; n/v; coma if severe
an increase in HCO3
metabolic alkalosis
met. alkalosis caused by…
excessive loss of metabolic acids
vomiting, excessive antacid intake
ABGs seen in met. alkalosis
high HCO3
normal or high CO2
met. alkalosis s/s
slow, shallow breathing; confusion; hypertonic muscles; twitching; restlessness; apathy; irritability; tetany; seizures; coma if severe
decompensation
Causative problem becomes more severe
Additional problems occur
Compensation mechanisms are exceeded/fail
with acid-base imbalances we need to treat…
the underlying cause
