Acid-Base Balance

Question 1

What does pH tell you?

Answer 1

Whether the blood is acidic, alkaline, or neutral

Question 2

Normal PaO2 level

Answer 2

80-100mmHg

Question 3

What does an increased CO2 do to LOC and O2

Answer 3

Decrease

Question 4

What type of relationship do CO2 and O2 have?

Answer 4

Inverse

Question 5

How do the kidneys compensate for respiratory acidosis?

Answer 5

Excrete hydrogen and retain bicarb

Question 6

Causes of respiratory acidosis

Answer 6

Breathing problems, abdominal incision, narcotics, pneumothorax, collapsed lung, pneumonia

Question 7

S/S of respiratory acidosis

Answer 7

HA, confusion, sleepy. If not corrected, could lead to coma. Hypoxia

Question 8

Early s/s of hypoxia

Answer 8

Restlessness and tachycardia

Question 9

How to treat hypoxia

Answer 9

Give O2

Question 10

Respiratory acidosis tx

Answer 10

Fix breathing problem. (pneumonia, use postural drainage to get rid of secretions, percussion, deep breathing, suctioning, fluids, elevate HOB, IS)

Question 11

How do kidneys compensate for respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 11

Excrete bicarb, retain hydrogen

Question 12

Is hydrogen an acid or base?

Answer 12

Acid

Question 13

Causes of respiratory alkalosis

Answer 13

Hyperventilating, hysterical, acute aspirin overdose

Question 14

S/s of respiratory alkalosis

Answer 14

Lightheaded, faint, peri-oral numbness, numbness and tingling in fingers and toes

Question 15

Tx of respiratory alkalosis

Answer 15

Breathe into paper bag. May have to sedate client to decrease RR. Monitor ABGs

Question 16

Patho of metabolic acidosis

Answer 16

Kidneys are retaining hydrogen or do not have enough bicarb

Question 17

RR in metabolic acidosis

Answer 17

Increased to blow off CO2

Question 18

Cause of metabolic acidosis

Answer 18

DKA, starvation (cells are starving for glucose, so body breaks down protein and fat and produces ketones which are an acid), renal failure, severe diarrhea

Question 19

S/s of metabolic acidosis

Answer 19

Hyperkalemia s/s, increased RR

Question 20

Tx of metabolic acidosis

Answer 20

IV push sodium bicarb

Question 21

Patho of metabolic alkalosis

Answer 21

Kidneys are retaining too much bicarb or excreting too much hydrogen

Question 22

Cause of metabolic alkalosis

Answer 22

Loss of upper GI contents, too many antacids which contain bases, too much IV bicarb

Question 23

S/s of metabolic alkalosis

Answer 23

Observe LOC, decreased K (cramps, arrhythmias)

Question 24

Tx of metabolic alkalosis

Answer 24

Replace K