ILP 3: CAL 1 ABGs Flashcards
What are normal values for:
- pH
- PaCO2
- HCO3
- PaO2
- pH 7.35 – 7.45
- PaCO2 35 – 45mmHg
- HCO3 22 – 28meq/l
- PaO2 80 – 100mmHg
It is important to know the normal values of arterial blood gases (ABGs) to detect abnormalities.
What are the 3 components of ABGs?
- PaCO2
- pH
- HCO3
They are measures of this chemical equation that occurs in the body. It is important to consider the effects of these three components when analysing ABGs.
What is pH as a component of ABGs?
a measure of acid/alkali balance in the body and is influenced by the amount of hydrogen ion (H+) in the blood.
- An increase in H+ acts to decrease the pH (ACIDOTIC).
- A decrease in H+ acts to increase the pH (ALKALOTIC).
What is PaCO2 as a component of ABGs?
PaCO2 is influenced by respiration.
- Increased minute ventilation (MV) decreases CO2 (ALKALOTIC).
- Decreased in MV increases the CO2 (ACIDOTIC).
What is HCO3 as a component of ABGs?
The resultant bicarbonate ion (HCO3) reflects the metabolic component of the equation.
An increase in HCO3 results in ALKALOSIS, and a decrease results in ACIDOSIS.
What are the 6 steps to analyse ABGs?
- Look at pH
- Is it acidotic/alkalotic?
- Look at PaCO2
- Is it high or low?
- Look at HCO3
- Is it high or low?
- Which of PaCO2 or HCO3 agrees with the pH?
- Is there any compensation?
- Is there any hypoxaemia?
What is pH is acidosis VS alkalosis?
- pH < 7.35 => Acidosis
- pH > 7.45 => Alkalosis
pH 7.23, PaCO2 50mmHg, HCO3 24, PaO2 60mmHg
Is the pH in the example:
- Acidotic
- Alkalotic
- Within normal range
pH < 7.35 => Acidosis
The pH is acidotic, as it is less than 7.35.
What PaCO2 is respiratory acidosis VS alkalosis?
- PaCO2 > 45 => Respiratory acidosis
- PaCO2 < 35 => Respiratory alkalosis
pH 7.23, PaCO2 50mmHg, HCO3 24, PaO2 60mmHg
Is the PaCO2 in the example:
- Acidotic
- Alkalotic
- Within normal range
PaCO2 > 45 => Respiratory acidosis
- PaCO2 is acidotic, as it is greater than 45mmHg.
What HCO3 is metabolic acidosis VS alkalosis?
- HCO3 < 22 => Metabolic acidosis
- HCO3 > 28 => Metabolic alkalosis
pH 7.23, PaCO2 50mmHg, HCO3 24, PaO2 60mmHg
Is the HCO3 in the example:
- Acidotic
- Alkalotic
- Within normal range
HCO3 22-28 => Normal range
HCO3 is within normal range, as it is between 22 and 28.
pH 7.23 = Acidotic
PaCO2 50mmHg = Acidotic
HCO3 24 = Normal range
PaO2 60mmHg
Which of PaCO2 or HCO3 agrees with pH?
The PaCO2 and pH are both acidotic
PaCO2 that is acidotic and therefore agrees with pH (primary system).
pH 7.23, PaCO2 50mmHg, HCO3 24, PaO2 60mmHg
What is important to look at (for compensation)?
- Is the other system (metabolic in this case) trying to compensate for the disruption to pH?
- Look at the pH
- is it within normal range?
- is it outside normal range?
- Look at the other system – HCO3 in this case
- is it within normal range?
- Is it outside normal range?
- It is important to look at the pH and the HCO3 to see if there is any compensation occurring.
What are 3 types of compensation in the ABG analysis?
- Complete compensation:
- Other system outside normal range
- pH within normal range
- Therefore, one system is able to offset a change and pH returns to normal limits.
- Incomplete/Partial:
- Other system outside normal range
- pH outside normal range
- Therefore, one system begun to offset the change but not enough to return pH to normal range.
- No compensation:
- Other system within normal range
- pH outside normal range
- Therefore, no attempt at offsetting pH.
What are 3 characteristics of complete compensation in ABG analysis?
- Other system outside normal range
- pH within normal range
- Therefore, one system is able to offset a change and pH returns to normal limits.
What are 3 characteristics of incomplete compensation in ABG analysis?
- Other system outside normal range
- pH outside normal range
- Therefore, one system begun to offset the change but not enough to return pH to normal range.
What are 3 characteristics of no compensation in ABG analysis?
- Other system within normal range
- pH outside normal range
- Therefore, no attempt at offsetting pH.
pH 7.23, PaCO2 50mmHg, HCO3 24, PaO2 60mmHg
pH 7.23 = Acidotic (outside normal range)
PaCO2 50mmHg = Acidotic
HCO3 24 (within normal range)
PaO2 60mmHg
Is there any compensation occurring?
No compensation
pH is within normal range, no attempt by metabolic system to compensate (HCO3 24).
What is PaO2 is normal levels VS hypoxaemia VS severe hypoxaemia?
- PaO2 80 - 100 mmHg = Normal levels
- PaO2 < 80mmHg = Hypoxaemia
- PaO2 < 60mmHg = Severe hypoxaemia
pH 7.23, PaCO2 50mmHg, HCO3 24, PaO2 60mmHg
Is there any hypoxaemia?
- Hypoxaemia
- Severe hypoxaemia
- No hypoxaemia
PaO2 < 60mmHg = Severe hypoxaemia
PaO2 is 60mmHg, therefore the patient is in severe hypoxaemia.
Uncompensated respiratory acidosis with severe hypoxaemia.
What are the 4 summaries the respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalisis?
- pH
- PaCo2
- PaO2
- HCO3
- Condition
What is the cause of respiratory acidosis?
Carbon dioxide is retained when ventilation is depressed. Eg. Overdose, acute respiratory failure, upper airway obstruction.
What are 5 clinical manifestations of respiratory acidosis?
- restlessness, apprehension
- lethargy
- muscle twitching, tremors, seizures
- warm peripheries, vasodilation
- tachycardia.