Acid-Base Balance

Question 1

Normal ph range

Answer 1

7.35-7.45

Question 2

Hydrogen is an acid or base?

Answer 2

acid

Question 3

Carbon dioxide is an acid or base?

Answer 3

acid

Question 4

Bicarb is an acid or base?

Answer 4

base

Question 5

Ketones are acids or bases?

Answer 5

acid

Question 6

Hypoventilation does what to CO2

Answer 6

Retaining CO2

Question 7

Hyperventilation does what to CO2

Answer 7

Eliminating CO2

Question 8

Normal PaO2

Answer 8

80-100 mmHg

Question 9

Normal PaCO2

Answer 9

35-45 mmHg

Question 10

Normal HCO3 “Bicarbonate”

Answer 10

22-26 mEq/L

Question 11

Causes of respiratory acidosis

Answer 11

Retaining CO2; hypoventilating, mid abdominal incision (pain), narcotics, sleeping pills (resp depression), pneumothorax, collapsed lung, pneumonia (thick sticky secretions and cant participate in gas exchange)

Question 12

S/Sx of respiratory acidosis

Answer 12

headache, confused, sleepy, could lead to coma, hypoxia (early sx is restlessness, dyspnea, and tachycardia).

Question 13

Treatment for respiratory acidosis

Answer 13

Fix the breathing problem. Treat pneumonia, rid of secretions in lungs by postural drainage, percussion, deep breathing exercises, suctioning, fluids, elevate HOB, incentive spirometer, chest tubes for pneumothorax, postop TCDB

Question 14

Causes of respiratory alkalosis

Answer 14

hyperventilation, hysterical, acute aspirin overdose (breathing too fast and removing CO2).

Question 15

S/sx of respiratory alkalosis

Answer 15

Hyperventilation, vasoconstriction— lightheadedness, faint, peri-oral numbness, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes

Question 16

treatment for respiratory alkalosis

Answer 16

Breath into a paper bag, calm them down, treat cause, monitor ABGs, may have to be sedated. Treat the cause

Question 17

Causes of metabolic acidosis

Answer 17

DKA, starvation, (cells are starving for glucose, so the body will break down protein and fat, produce ketones, ketones are acids); renal failure, severe diarrhea (losing bicarb from body)

Question 18

S/Sx of metabolic acisosis

Answer 18

Depend on cause, hyperkalemia, muscle twitching, muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis, arrythmias, increased K+ level, increased resp rate (kussmauls respirations for DKA).

Question 19

Treatment for metabolic acidosis

Answer 19

IVP sodium bicarb, will buy you time to treat the cause.

Question 20

Causes of metabolic alkalosis

Answer 20

loss of upper GI contents with vomiting or NG tube with suction by losing acids, ingesting too many antacids, too much IV bicarb can cause it

Question 21

S/sx of metabolic alkalosis

Answer 21

Depend on cause; Observe LOC alterations, Serum K+ is low; muscle cramps, life threatening arrythmias

Question 22

Treatment for Metabolic Alkalosis

Answer 22

Fix problem, replace potassium