Acid/Base Balance Flashcards
Why acid base balance is important in body
Must maintain normal pH for chemical reactions
___ produced in large amounts as byproduct of bodily chemical reactions
Acids (H+)
Normal blood pH of d/c
7.4 +/- .05
May fluctuate to 7.2-7.6
pH of acidosis and alkalosis
Acidosis= <7.3 Alkalosis= >7.8
Primary buffering system in the body to control the acid byproducts from chemical reactions
Bicarbonate-Carbonic Acid system
How bicarbonate-carbonic acid system works to buffer acid byproducts
H+ is combined w bicarbonate (HCO3) reserves, made into carbonic acid, made into CO2 and H2O, excreted by lungs
Some H also excreted by kidneys
2 organs most responsible for acid/base balance and buffering acids
Lungs and kidneys
Acidosis is caused by ____ acid produced and ___ bicarbonate saved
Too much acid, not enough bicarb saved (for H+ excretion)
Diseases that cause acidosis (not respiratory)
Extreme diarrhea (bicarb lost), kidney disease (bicarb not being reserved), diabetes mellitus (ketoacids produces)
Why diabetes mellitus can cause acidosis
No insulin, can’t use glucose, protein and fat broken down, makes ketoacids
Respiratory disease that cause acidosis
Any disease that impairs resp function Bc can’t exhale properly to remove H+ ions
(Pneumonia, asthma, lung disease)
Clinical signs of acidosis caused by impaired respirations
Panting: trying to compensate for inability to excrete H/ CO2 thro lungs
alkalosis is caused by ____ too much bicarbonate and ____ too much acid
Save too much bicarb it excrete too much acid
Causes of alkalosis
Vomiting ( loss of HCl), hyperventilation (fever, panting, high altitudes w little O2) too much CO2 (H) excreted
Sample w use to test acid base balance
Blood pH, not urine
How we measure CO2 levels when measuring acid base balance
Measure from arterial blood from carotid artery, make sure no deadspace in collection tube
How we measure bicarb levels in blood
Calculated from CO2 levels in arterial blood
What is an anion gap
A difference in ratio of cations:anions
Normally pos and neg are equal
Anion gap is used to detect
Acidosis
Anion:cation ratio is maintained by
Blood buffer system
An increase in anion gap may be caused by
Ketoacidosis or renal failure (pH too low )
When we would test Acid base status
Prolonged/severe v/d, renal failure, resp disease, Addison’s disease (also causes acidosis), diabetes mellitus (ketoacids)
How to treat anion gap/ acid base disturbances
Fluid therapy to replace electrolytes and balance pH
