Acid-Base Balance Flashcards
Normal ph range
7.35-7.45
Hydrogen is an acid or base?
acid
Carbon dioxide is an acid or base?
acid
Bicarb is an acid or base?
base
Ketones are acids or bases?
acid
Hypoventilation does what to CO2
Retaining CO2
Hyperventilation does what to CO2
Eliminating CO2
Normal PaO2
80-100 mmHg
Normal PaCO2
35-45 mmHg
Normal HCO3 “Bicarbonate”
22-26 mEq/L
Causes of respiratory acidosis
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)
S/Sx of respiratory acidosis
headache, confused, sleepy, could lead to coma, hypoxia (early sx is restlessness, dyspnea, and tachycardia).
Treatment for respiratory acidosis
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
Causes of respiratory alkalosis
hyperventilation, hysterical, acute aspirin overdose (breathing too fast and removing CO2).
S/sx of respiratory alkalosis
Hyperventilation, vasoconstriction— lightheadedness, faint, peri-oral numbness, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes
treatment for respiratory alkalosis
Breath into a paper bag, calm them down, treat cause, monitor ABGs, may have to be sedated. Treat the cause
Causes of metabolic acidosis
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)
S/Sx of metabolic acisosis
Depend on cause, hyperkalemia, muscle twitching, muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis, arrythmias, increased K+ level, increased resp rate (kussmauls respirations for DKA).
Treatment for metabolic acidosis
IVP sodium bicarb, will buy you time to treat the cause.
Causes of metabolic alkalosis
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
S/sx of metabolic alkalosis
Depend on cause; Observe LOC alterations, Serum K+ is low; muscle cramps, life threatening arrythmias
Treatment for Metabolic Alkalosis
Fix problem, replace potassium
