Blood Gas Analysis recap Flashcards
What does blood gas measure?
partial pressure of gasses in the blood,incorportates pH analysis and consideration of various electrolytes that affect pH
What does ACID mean in acid base?
proton donor
What does BASE mean in acid base?
proton acceptor
What is normal pH?
7.4 / 7.35-7.45
What happens as pH falls?
hydrogen increases in bigger and bigger steps
Why are we interested in blood gas analysis?
- effects rate of enzymatic reactions
- has a big impact on physiology
- often deranged in disease
- iatrogenic pH derrangements
What occurs if pH is less than 6.8 or greater than 7.6?
death
What is it called when pH is less than 6.8?
acidaemia
What is it called when pH is more than 7.6?
alkalaemia
What determines pH in the body?
body must be electroneutral and all negative and positive charges must add up
Whar works together to minimise pH changes?
chemical buffers, respiratory and renal systems
What is Henderson Hasselbalch Equation?
the relationship between pH and bicarbonate and carbon dioxide levels
What elements are most important for maintenance of normal pH?
phosphates, proteins and bicarbonate/carbonic acid system most important
What are capable of accepting or donating hydrogen?
any particle
What do buffers do?
act to soak up excess hydrogen and release it when necessary
What are examples of buffers?
bicarbonate (HCO3-), haemoglobin, blood proteins, phosphate and lactate
What can cause pH derangements?
- respiratory acidosis or alkalosis
- metabolic acidosis or alkalosis
What causes respiraotry acidosis or alkalosis?
a change in PCO2 leading to a change in pH
What causes metabolic acidosis or alkalosis?
a change in anything else that can affect pHand usually see a change in HCO3- due to loss or gain
What does hyperventilation cause?
a fall in PaCO2
What does hypoventilation cuase?
increase in PaCO2
What does the renal system play a role in?
regulating the amount of bicarbonate in the body and regulates the levels of many ions
What causes acute respiratory acidosis?
hypoventilation
What is respiratory acidosis in response to?
increased HCO3-
What happens with chronic respiratory acidosis?
more acid excreted and HCO3- retained
What is arespiratory alkalosis?
a fall in PCO2 caused by increased ventilation, pain, stress, hypoxaemia
What is metabolic acidosis signified by?
decreased HCO3-
What is metabolic acidosis caused by?
direct loss of bicarbonate or its consumption due to excess levels of acid
What is respiratory alkalosis signified by?
increased HCO3-
What is metabolic alkalosis caused by?
compensatory increase due to loss of chloride ions or albumin
What can derangements can occur at the same time?
respiratory and metabolic
What is an example of a mixed disorder?
horse with colicmay have metabolic acidosis and a respiratory acidosis
What is base excess?
amount of acid required to titrate 1L of blood to a pH of 7.4 at 37 degrees and a PaCO2 of 40mmHg whcih can be positive or negative
What are the normalarterial values for oxygen?
90-100mmHg when breathing room air and 21% oxygen
What are the normal venous values for oxygen?
40-50mmHg
What is hypoxaemia defined as?
oxygen at less than 80mmHg
What do blood gas machines measure?
electrolytes, lactate, haematocrit, glucose
What test can you do if you are interested in acid base?
arterial or venous sample
What test do you need if wanting to know about gas exchange?
arterial sample
What is a glass syringe or?
impermeable to gas, best is sample analysis delayed but must be kept on ice
What are plastic syringes used for?
purpose designed blood gas syringe for short term (5-10 minutes) storage at room temperature
How do you handle a blood gas sample?
- heparinised syringes
- prevent clotting by rolling syringe in hand between sampling and analysis
- discard the first drop of blood as often clotted
What artifacts are often seen?
- air contamination leading to low co2
- saline contamination leading to high chloride often seen with samples from catheters
- clotting - low PCV/HCT
What is anion gapnormally?
15-25mmol/L
What is decreased anion gap?
hypoproteinaemia
What is normal anion gap?
GI bicarbonate loss
What is increased anion gap?
lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis
What PaO2 will you expect to see under anaesthesia?
400-500mmHg as given 100% oxygen