Acid-Base Disorders

Question 1

What are acids?

Answer 1

Substances that release hydrogen ions

Question 2

What are bases?

Answer 2

Substances that combine with hydrogen ions

Question 3

How do nephrons in the kidney assist the regulation of hydrogen ions?

Answer 3

They excrete excess hydrogen ions into the urine

Question 4

What system of regulation is generally the fastest?

Answer 4

The buffer systems

Question 5

What pH values are that of Acidosis and Alkalosis?

Answer 5

Less than 7.35 for acid, and more than 7.45 for alkalosis

Question 6

What causes metabolic acidosis/alkalosis?

Answer 6

Imbalance on the part of the kidney

Question 7

What causes respiratory acidosis/alkalosis?

Answer 7

Primarily lung or breathing disorders

Question 8

So how we diagnose acid-base disorders?

Answer 8

Via blood gas estimation through an arterial blood sample

Question 9

How to treat metabolic acidosis?

Answer 9

Insulin for diabetes, treat any poisoning, or dialysis if unknown cause and severe

Question 10

What are the signs of metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 10

If severe, muscle spasms, tetany and such

Question 11

Treatment for metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 11

Treat underlying cause again, if severe, give Ammonium Chloride

Question 12

Step 1 to reading an ABG?

Answer 12

Identify the acid-base status, acidosis or alkalosis essentially

Question 13

Step Two to reading ABG?

Answer 13

Look at PaCO2, if decreased, then obviously respiratory. If both pH and paCO2 change in the same direction, problem is metabolic.

Question 14

Normal paCO2 levels?

Answer 14

4.7-6 kPa