Acid Base Balance Flashcards
Normal pH
7.35-7.45
pH below 7.35: ______
pH above 7.45: ______
pH below 7.35: acidotic
pH above 7.45: alkalotic
Normal CO2
35-45
Normal HCO3
22-26
Normal PaO2
80-100
What does the kidneys do to acid? Bicarb?
Acid - removed through urine
Bicarb - hold on or excrete
*Takes hours to days to do their job
How does the lungs get rid of CO2?
Exhale
*Takes seconds to minutes to respond
What happens in respiratory acidosis?
pH goes down
CO2 goes up
What are 6 causes of respiratory acidosis?
- Retaining Co2
- Mild abdominal incision
- Narcotics/sleeping pills
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Collapsed lung
How do you fix respiratory acidosis?
Oxygen
Deep breathing/cough
*Need them to breathe more
As CO2 increases, level of consciousness _______.
Decreases
What are 4 symptoms of respiratory acidosis?
- Sleepy
- Confusion
- Headache
- Hypoxic
What are the 2 early signs of hypoxia?
- Tachycardia
- Restless
* Think air hungry
As CO2 increases, oxygen ________.
Decreases
What is happening in respiratory alkalosis?
pH goes up
CO2 goes down
What are 3 causes of respiratory alkalosis?
- Hyperventilating
- Hysterical
- Acute aspirin overdose (pt is breathing too fast and removing CO2)
What are 4 symptoms of respiratory alkalosis?
- Lightheaded
- Faint
- Peri-oral numbness
- Numbness/tingling of fingers and toes
How do you treat respiratory alkalosis?
Breathe into paper bag/cup hands
Sedation
What is happening in metabolic acidosis?
pH goes down
Bicarb goes down
What are the 4 causes of metabolic acidosis?
- DKA
- Starvation
- Renal failure
- Severe diarrhea
What are the 2 symptoms of metabolic acidosis?
- Hyperkalemia (muscle twitching, weakness, arrythmias, and flaccid paralysis)
- Increased RR (trying to blow off acid)
How do you treat metabolic acidosi?
Give bicarb (IV) Treat cause
What is happening in metabolic alkalosis?
pH goes up
Bicarb goes up
What are the 3 causes of metabolic alkalosis?
- Loss of upper GI contents
- Too many antacids (too much bicarb)
- Too much IV bicarb (cardiac arrest situation)
How do you treat metabolic alkalosis?
Fix the problem
Replace potassium
Metabolic acidosis = ______kalemia
Metabolic alkalosis = _______kalemia
Metabolic acidosis = hyperkalemia
Metabolic alkalosis = hypokalemia
