Lec 11- Arterial blood gases Flashcards
whats the point of knowing this
- Patient with acute asthmatic crisis arrives at ED. Present severe crisis after cleaning house and important dust exposure
- pH= 7.25
- PaCO2= 76 mmHg
- PaO2= 58 mmHg
- HCO3= 33 mmol/L
- SaO2= 85%
Arterial blood gases
- Blood gas measurements are used to evaluate the severity of an O2/CO2 or pH imbalance
- The tests are ordered for patients who: Respiratory disease; Metabolic condition; Kidney disease; Diabetic ketoacidosis; Undergoing surgery and prolonged anaesthesia
The procedure
-The procedure involves drawing blood from usually the radial artery from a patient’s non-dominant hand -Heparinised self-filling
The basics
- RESPIRATORY: CO2 produced from breathing, combines with H2O to give H2CO3, thus H+
- METABOLIC: problem with oxidative metabolism, accumulation of lactic acid, uric acid, more H+. Also, CO2 from metabolism
- Think about the fact we split them into 4 groups respiratory acidosis and alkalosis and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis
Control of plasma pH
- The normal value of pH 7.35
- Immediate control by the blood buffers: extracellular; intracellular -
- Long-term control:
1st Respiratory system; 2nd-Renal system
Metabolic acid and Base production
- VOLATILE ACID: CO2
- NON-VOLATILE: Metabolic acids e.g. lactic acid, keto acids and uric acid
- BICARBONATE:
Physiological buffers
- EXTRACELLULAR FLUID: Carbonic acid buffer
- INTRACELLULAR BUFFER: proteins
+Blood stream: Hb buffer
- Renal tubule: Phosphate and ammonia
- Buffer definition- a buffer solution resists changes in pH when small quantities of an acid or an alkali are added to it
NB- A buffer solution cannot buffer itself
Acids and Bases
- Bronsted-Lowry- Acid a substance capable of donating a proton; base a substance capable of accepting a proton
- Lewis acid- electron acceptor; base- electron donor
- Corresponding acid and base are a conjugate pair
- The strength of an acid is measured by the ability to donate protons
- Water is amphiprotic solvent: Can accept or donate protons
Carbonic acid
Remeber Henderson hasselbalch equation
pH= pKa + log [HCO3-]/[H2CO3]
Influence of carbon dioxide
pH=pKa + [HCO3-]/[CO2]
- Carbonic anhydrase
- Bicarbonate and carbonic acid buffer
pH and the bicarbonate buffer
-The bicarbonate buffer works by having 20:1 (base: acid)
The Phosphate buffer
Blood buffers: Hb
- Hb carries O2 from the lungs to the muscles through the blood
- The muscle produces CO2 and H+
- The buffering action of Hb picks up the extra H+ and CO2
- If Hb buffer is exceeded, the pH of the blood is lowered, causing acidosis
The ideal buffer
- pKa =pH+log(base/acid)
- if pKa=pH then log(base/acid)=0 and base/acid=1 –> this means [base]=[acid]
- Equal capacity for acid and base buffering
Treatment of respiratory acid/base disorders
Respiratory alkalosis: -Resolve underlying cause -Reduced blood CO2 Strategies to be used: Oxygen therapy; Reassurance; Diuretics; Breath holding techniques; Positive end-expiratory pressure (hold the inspiratory phase abit longer)
The isohydric principle
- H+= Ka1[HA1]/[A1] = Ka2[HA2]/[A2] = Ka3 etc = Ka4 etc
- Where multiple acid pairs in solution will be in equilibrium with one another, tied together by their common reagent: H+ and hence, the pH of the solution
Respiratory Regulation of pH
- Central chemoreceptors - 70-80% of drive- lungs
- Peripheral Chemoreceptors- 20-30% of drive- muscles
Renal regulation of pH
- Reabsorption of bicarbonate HCO3-
- Secretion of protons
- Facilitated by carbonic anhydrase