Acid-base disturbance Flashcards
pH equations
pH = -log[H+] [H+] = 10^(-pH)
Blood pH levels
Normal: 7.35 - 7.45
Acidaemia: <7.35
Alkalaemia: >7.45
Buffer
Minimises pH changes due to addition or removal of H+
Only removes H+ temporarily - doesn’t remove from body
pK of buffer
pH at which [A-] = [HA]
pH = pK + log([A-]/[HA])
2 buffers in the blood
Bicarbonate - most important
Proteins e.g. albumin and haemoglobin
Respiratory control of pCO2
Increased pCO2 = acidosis
Decreased pCO2 = alkalosis
Blood gas measured quantities
pH
pCO2
pO2
Blood gas calculated quantities
HCO3-
Base excess
Respiratory disturbances
CO2 retention = respiratory acidosis
Hyperventilation = respiratory alkalosis
Metabolic disturbances
Decreased HCO3- = metabolic acidosis
Increased HCO3- = metabolic alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis indicators
Low pH
Low bicarbonate
Metabolic acidosis causes
Increased acid production
Decreased acid excretion
Bicarbonate loss
Lactic acidosis
Type of metabolic acidosis
Hypoxia
Poor tissue perfusion
CO or cyanide poisonsing
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Insulin resistance decreases glucose uptake. Without glucose, the body uses fat for energy which produces ketones
Ketones are acidic bodies that build up and cause acidosis
2 things that can cause decreased acid excretion
Renal failure and renal tubular acidosis
2 things that can cause bicarbonate loss
Severe diarrhoea
Ileostomy
Rare causes of metabolic acidosis
Methanol poisoning Ethylene glycol poisoning Genetic disorders Alcoholic ketoacidosis Glue sniffing
Two causes of metabolic alkalosis
Ingestion of sodium bicarbonate
Loss of stomach acid due to vomiting
What do these values indicate?
pH: 7.54
Bicarbonate: 33
pCO2: 5.2
Metabolic alkalosis
High pH with high bicarbonate and normal pCO2
What do these values indicate?
pH: 7.33
Bicarbonate: 25
pCO2: 6.5
Acute respiratory acidosis
Low pH with normal bicarbonate and high pCO2
What do these values indicate?
pH: 7.50
Bicarbonate: 23
pCO2: 4.0
Acute respiratory alkalosis
High pH with normal bicarbonate and low pCO2
What do these values indicate?
pH: 7.28
Bicarbonate: 14
pCO2: 4.0
Metabolic acidosis
Low pH with low bicarbonate and low pCO2
What do these values indicate?
pH: 7.07
Bicarbonate: 16
pCO2: 7.5
Mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis
Low pH with low bicarbonate and high pCO2
Acidotic breathing
When low pH from metabolic acidosis stimulates ventilation which lowers pCO2 to compensate, bringing pH up towards normal but not completely
Renal acidification
Kidneys excrete acid to balance non-volatile acid generated through metabolism