Acidosis & Alkalosis quiz Flashcards
A patient at A&E has low blood pH, increased PaCO2 and normal HCO3-.
What is the verdict?
Acute respiratory acidosis
Less CO2 exhaled, more CO2 in body = increased carbonic acid in blood, low PH.
Acute situation - metabolic compensation has not had time to have an effect - hence no decreased HCO3- excretion
A patient presents at their GP. They have low blood pH, raised PaCO2 and raised HCO3-.
What is the verdict?
Chronic respiratory acidosis
Less CO2 exhaled, more CO2 in body = increased carbonic acid in blood, low pH
Chronic - so metabolic/renal compensation has had an effect - less HCO3- excreted from body to try to increase pH back to normal
A patient in A&E has increased blood pH, decreased PaCO2 and normal HCO3-.
What is the verdict?
Acute respiratory alkalosis
Too much CO2 exhaled, less CO2 in body = less carbonic acid in blood, high blood pH
Acute - so no metabolic compensation yet, no increase in HCO3- excretion
A patient presents at their GP with increased blood pH, decreased PaCO2 and decreased HCO3-.
What is the verdict?
Chronic respiratory alkalosis
Too much CO2 exhaled, less CO2 in body = less carbonic acid in blood, high blood pH
Chronic - metabolic compensation leads to increased secretion of HCO3- to bring pH down back to normal
A patient has low blood pH, decreased PaCO2 and decreased HCO3-.
What is the verdict?
Metabolic acidosis + compensation
Too much HCO3- lost, so blood HCO3- levels are too low = low blood pH
Respiratory compensation causes body to increase CO2 exhalation, less CO2 in body = less carbonic acid in blood which increases pH towards normal
A patient has high blood pH, increased PaCO2 and increased HCO3-.
What is the verdict?
Metabolic alkalosis + compensation
Not enough HCO3- lost, blood HCO3- levels too high = high blood pH
Respiratory compensation causes body to decrease CO2 exhalation, more CO2 in body = more carbonic acid in blood which decreases pH towards normal
What is the formula for carbonic acid!
H2CO3
