Acid-Base Disorders Flashcards
Normal arterial pH
7.34-7.45
Acid-base balance is normally maintained by
Lungs
Kidneys
pH level considered to be incompatible with life
Less than 6.7
Greater than 7.7
Buffering
Ability of weak acid and corresponding anion (base) to resist change in pH of a solution on the addition of a strong acid or base
Principal extracellular buffer
Carbonic acid/bicarbonate
H2CO3/HCO3- system
Other physiologic buffers
Plasma proteins
Hgb
Phosphates
Lungs regulate _____ and kidneys regulate _____
Lungs control CO2 + H2O
Kidneys control HCO3- + H+
Bicarb buffer system is most important b/c…
– More bicarbonate in the ECF than any other
buffer
– Unlimited supply of CO2
– Degree of ECF acidity can be regulated by changing HCO3- and/or pCO2
Carbonic Acid
– respiratory component of the buffer pair
– nearly all carbonic acid in the body exists as carbon dioxide (CO2) gas
– concentration directly proportional to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and is determined by ventilation
Bicarbonate
– metabolic component
– kidneys regulate bicarbonate concentration
bicarbonate reabsorption occurs in
proximal tubule
bicarbonate reabsorption is catalyzed by
carbonic anhydrase
Remaining H+ secretion occurs in
distal tubule
Acid/Base Compensatory Mechanisms
– Compensation involves the opposite physiologic system as the primary disorder
– Primary disorder = respiratory ; kidneys compensate by adjusting HCO3- elimination
– Primary disorder = metabolic; lungs compensate by adjusting CO2 elimination
Assessment of Acid-Base Status
Blood Gas
Serum Electrolytes
– Useful to delineate respiratory vs metabolic disorder (HCO3-)
Medication/Medical History
– Current medications and disease processes
Most important diagnostic test for acid-base status
Arterial Blood Gas
Arterial Blood Gas obtained from
Brachial, radial, femoral
Arterial Blood Gas directly measures ___, but not ___
pH, pCO2, pO2 are direct
bicarb HCO3- is calculated
Calculate anion gap if…
metabolic acidosis
Anion gap calculation
AG = Na+ - (Cl- + HCO3-)
Positive ions minus negative anions
Normal anion gap
8-9
metabolic acidosis primary disturbance and compensation
primary - decreased HCO3-
comp - decrease pCO2 in lungs
respiratory acidosis primary disturbance and compensation
primary - increased pCO2 in lungs
comp - increase HCO3- in kidneys
metabolic alkalosis primary disturbance and compensation
primary - increased HCO3-
comp - increase pCO2 in lungs
respiratory alkalosis primary disturbance and compensation
primary - decreased pCO2 in lungs
comp - decrease HCO3- in kidneys
NAGMA results from
HCO3- losses in the ECF being replaced by Cl-
aka Hyperchloremic MA
Expected pCO2 calculation
(1.5 x HCO3-) + 8 (plus or minus a couple)
Normal serum CO2
22-26 (24)
same as HCO3- ABG
Normal ABG HCO3-
22-26 (24)
same as serum CO2
Normal ABG pCO2
35-45 (40)
Normal ABG pO2
80-100
low pH
low pCO2
low HCO3-
metabolic acidosis
also… high Cl-, low serum CO2, normal or high K+
High glucose in DKA
Life threatening acute metabolic acidosis plasma CO2 and pH levels
plasma CO2 less than 8
pH less than 7.2
When is bicarbonate therapy used in metabolic acidosis?
Only in Non-Anionic Gap MA (NAGMA)
Tx for acute-severe MA with AG
Tx underlying cause
- DKA, septic shock, etc.
Some puts req emergent hemodialysis
NaCl responsive metabolic alkalosis pts are typically…
volume depleted
- GI, diuretics, excessive bicarb tx, etc.
Degree of pCO2 compensation in metabolic alkalosis can be calculated as…
0.6 x (CO2 - 24)
Normal ABG readings
7.4 / 35-45 (40) / 80-100
pH pCO2 pO2
Tx Metabolic Alkalosis if NaCl-responsive
– Volume resuscitation with NaCl and/or KCl
solutions
– Acetazolamide for patients who can’t tolerate
volume
– Severe alkemia (pH > 7.6) may require acidifying
agents: HCl, ammonium chloride, arginine monochloride
- reserved for patients who fail to respond to standard
management or those unable to tolerate the necessary volume load for standard management
Tx Metabolic Alkalosis if NaCl-resistant
Aimed at treating the cause of
the excessive mineralocorticoid (MC) activity.
– Reduction of CCS dose or change to agent with less MC activity (e.g. methylprednisolone)
– Inhibition of aldosterone mediated sodium reabsorption: Spironolactone, Amiloride, or Triamterene
Tx for metabolic alkalosis in Na responsive pts who cannot increase volume
Acetazolamide