acid base tutorial

Question 1

what are the four steps in assessing arterial blood gasses

Answer 1

assess oxygenation
determine the status of the ph
determine the primary problem
decide if compensation is occurring

Question 2

what is normal o2 partial pressure

Answer 2

12-13 kPa

Question 3

what is normal pCO2

Answer 3

4.5-5.8

Question 4

what is normal bicarbonate concentration

Answer 4

22-26 mmol/L

Question 5

how do you determine the problem

Answer 5

if the pH arrows and the pCO2 arrows are going in the same direction then metabolic
if different then respiratory

Question 6

how do you decide if compensation is occurring

Answer 6

if the pCO2 arrow and the bicarb arrow are going in the same direction then compensation may be occurring

Question 7

what conditions might cause an anion gap

Answer 7

something which produces more anions e.g. lactic acidosis or ketoacidosis

Question 8

what conditions would cause acidosis but no anion gap

Answer 8

something where anions are being lost e.g. diarrhoea or renal loss of bicarb

Question 9

what enzyme is an indicator of pancreatitis

Answer 9

amylase

Question 10

what is Cullen’s sign

Answer 10

periumbilical bruising which may indicate acute pancreatitis

Question 11

what is Grey turner’s sign

Answer 11

flank bruising which indicates retroperitoneal bleeding

may be acute pancreatitis