Acid-Base Balance Flashcards
Major chemicals involved in acid-base balance
Bicarb (base)
Hydrogen (acid)
CO2 (acid)
Major lung chemical
CO2
Kidney chemicals
Bicarb and hydrogen
Respiratory acidosis: This is a (lung or kidney) problem. What chemical is causing the problem? Too much or not enough of this chemical? Hypo- or hyperventilating? Who is going to compensate? How?
Lung CO2 Too much Hypoventilating Kidney, retain bicarb (base) and excrete H (acid)
What are some causes of respiratory acidosis?
Mid abdominal incision Narcotics (decreased RR) Sleeping pills Pneumothorax Collapsed lung Pneumonia
Normal values: pH PaO2 PaCO2 HCO3
pH –> 7.35 - 7.45
PaO2 –> 80 - 100
PaCO2 –> 35 - 45
HCO3 –> 22 - 26
S/S of Respiratory Acidosis
Confusion (decreased LOC, 1st sign)
HA
Sleepy
Restlessness, think ___ first
hypoxia
If Resp Acidosis not corrected, could lead to a ___
coma
If hypoxic, give ___
oxygen
Early S/S of hypoxia?
restlessness
tachycardia
Treatment of Resp acidosis
- fix the respiratory problem
- encourage post-op clients to turn, cough, deep breathe
Respiratory alkalosis:
Which organ is sick? Why?
Which organ will compensate? How?
lungs, breathing off too much CO2
kidneys, excrete bicarb (base) and retain H (acid)
Causes of respiratory alkalosis?
hyperventilation from…
- hysterical
- acute ASA overdose
S/S of resp alkalosis
lightheaded / faint feeling
peri-oral numbness
numbness and tingling in fingers and toes
Treatment of resp alkalosis
Breathe into paper bag
May have to sedate (decreases RR)
Treat the cause
Monitor ABGs
Metabolic acidosis:
What organ is sick? Why?
Respiratory rate will (increase or decrease)?
kidneys, too little bicarb and too much H+
Increase, to blow of excess acid
Causes of metabolic acidosis
DKA
Starvation
Renal failure
Severe diarrhea
What electrolyte is elevated with metabolic acidosis? Why?
K+
B/c of H-K pump; when cells take up H+, they spit out K+
S/S of hyperkalemia associated with metabolic acidosis?
muscle twitching
muscle weakness
flaccid paralysis
arrhythmias
Metabolic alkalosis:
What organ is sick? Why?
Kidneys, too much bicarb (base), not enough H+ (acid)
Causes of metabolic alkalosis
Loss of upper GI contents (vomiting too much acid)
Too many antacids (base)
Too much IV bicarb
S/S of metabolic alkalosis
LOC
Hypokalemia
Muscle cramps
Life-threatening arrythmias
Treatment of metabolic alkalosis
Fix the problem
Replace K+
