Acid Base Abnormality Flashcards
What is respiratory acidosis?
Accumulation of CO2 in the blood due to alveolar hypoventilation, leading to decreased pH of blood.
What are the pH levels in primary respiratory acidosis?
pH < 7.35.
What are the causes of respiratory acidosis?
Hypoventilation, increase in dead space, reduced minute ventilation, and compensatory mechanisms for metabolic alkalosis.
What are common symptoms of respiratory acidosis?
Dyspnoea, headache, light-headedness, confusion, drowsiness, agitation.
What signs may indicate respiratory acidosis?
High or low respiratory rate, flushed skin, bounding peripheral pulses, asterixis, tachycardia, CNS dysfunction.
What is the primary investigation for diagnosing respiratory acidosis?
Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) showing pH < 7.35 and PaCO2 > 6 kPa.
What is the management for respiratory acidosis?
Address underlying cause, ensure target O2 saturation, and consider NIV or intubation if severe.
What are potential complications of respiratory acidosis?
Respiratory failure, NIV complications, invasive ventilation complications.
What is respiratory alkalosis?
A decrease in PaCO2 leading to high pH, often due to hyperventilation.
What are common causes of respiratory alkalosis?
Pulmonary conditions, anxiety, compensation for metabolic acidosis, salicylate poisoning, cerebral disease.
What symptoms are associated with respiratory alkalosis?
Light-headedness, confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, hypocalcaemia.
What is the primary investigation for diagnosing respiratory alkalosis?
ABG showing high pH and low PaCO2.
What is metabolic acidosis?
Blood pH < 7.35 with low bicarbonate, classified based on anion gap.
What are the causes of metabolic acidosis?
Raised anion gap (e.g., lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis) and normal anion gap (e.g., diarrhea, renal tubular acidosis).
What symptoms may indicate metabolic acidosis?
Dyspnoea, tachypnoea, nausea, vomiting, lethargy.
What is the primary investigation for diagnosing metabolic acidosis?
Blood gas showing low pH and low bicarbonate.
What is the management for metabolic acidosis?
Treat underlying cause, sodium bicarbonate, renal replacement therapy.
What are potential complications of metabolic acidosis?
Hypotension, arrhythmias, coma, seizures.
What is metabolic alkalosis?
A condition characterized by high pH and high bicarbonate.
What are common causes of metabolic alkalosis?
Loss of acid in kidneys or GI tract, hypokalaemia, excessive bicarbonate intake.
What symptoms may indicate metabolic alkalosis?
Confusion, reduced consciousness, paraesthesia, weakness, muscle twitching.
What is the primary investigation for diagnosing metabolic alkalosis?
ABG showing high bicarbonate and usually high pH.
What is the management for metabolic alkalosis?
Treatment of underlying cause and correction of electrolyte abnormalities.
What are potential complications of metabolic alkalosis?
Hypoventilation, hypoxaemia, arrhythmias, hypotension.
