Lecture 28: Acid-base homeostasis 2 Flashcards

1
Q

How do we determine the acid-base status of a patient?

A

Gases (pCO2, pO2)
Metabolites (Glucose, Lactate)
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Calcium)
pH
Actual bicarbonate
Co-oximetry (Total Hb, O2 saturation, OxyHb, COHb, MetHb)
Derived parameters (Base excess, Standard bicarbonate, Anion gap)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Give 3 derived parameters used in investigating acid-base homeostasis:

A

1) standard bicarbonate

2) base excess

3) anion gap

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is standard bicarbonate?

A

a calculated hypothetical value that predicts the expected bicarbonate concentration in a blood sample if the pCO2 is normal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What assumption does the calculation of standard bicarbonate make?

A

there are no contributions from any respiratory disturbance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What does an abnormal standard bicarbonate tell us?

A

there is a metabolic component to the disorder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is base excess?

A

a calculated parameter telling us the amount of acid or alkali required to titrate blood pH to 7.40

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is anion gap?

A

the difference between the sum of measured anions and cations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does an increased anion gap indicate?

A

there are significant amounts of unmeasured anions present e.g ketones, lactate, salicylate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does having air bubbles in blood gas samples affect readings? (3)

A

1) pO2 is affected

2) pH increases

3) pCO2 decreases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Does respiratory acidosis present with high or low pCO2?

A

high

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Does respiratory alkalosis present with high or low pCO2?

A

Low

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Does metabolic acidosis present with high or low HCO3-?

A

Low

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Does metabolic alkalosis present with high or low HCO3-?

A

high

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Give 2 key general symptoms of acidosis:

A

1) shortness of breath

2) coughing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Give 2 key general symptoms of alkalosis:

A

1) hand tremor

2) numbness or tingling in the face, hands or feat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Does metabolic acidosis present with high or low pCO2?

A

normal pCO2 but low if there is compensation

17
Q

Does metabolic alkalosis present with high or low pCO2?

A

normal pCO2 if there is compensation

18
Q

Give three causes of metabolic acidosis:

A

1) increased acid formation (ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, poisoning)

2) decreased acid excretion (uraemia/ renal failure, renal tubular acidosis type 1)

3) loss of bicarbonate (diarrhoea, fistula, renal tubular acidosis type 2)

19
Q

What two causes of metabolic acidosis are associated with an increased anion gap?

A

1) increased acid formation

2) decreased acid excretion

20
Q

Give two compensation mechanisms used in metabolic acidosis:

A

1) hyperventilation to blow off CO2

2) increased rate of bicarbonate regeneration

21
Q

Give 4 symptoms of metabolic acidosis:

A

1) nausea

2) vomiting

3) anorexia

4) Kussmaul breathing

22
Q

What is Kussmaul breathing?

A

rapid, deep, laboured breathing

23
Q

What drug is used to manage metabolic acidosis?

A

sodium bicarbonate (if pH is under 7)

24
Q

Give 3 causes of metabolic alkalosis:

A

1) loss of H+ through vomiting

2) administration of bicarbonate (iatrogenic)

3) potassium depletion

25
How can potassium depletion cause metabolic alkalosis? (2)
1) in the kidneys, excretion of H+ takes place to spare K+ at aldosterone-controlled renal transporters 2) in red blood cells, K+ is transported out of the cell and H+ is transported in to maintain electroneutrality, decreasing [H+]
26
Give one way that the body responds (compensates) to metabolic alkalosis:
reduced respiratory rate to retain CO2
27
How is metabolic alkalosis managed?
IV fluids (normal saline)
28
Give two causes respiratory acidosis?
1) defective respiratory function (COPD, asthma, pneumothorax) 2) defective control of respiration either by CNS depression or CNS disease
29
How do the kidneys respond to respiratory alkalosis?
they maximise bicarbonate regeneration and maximise H+ excretion
30
Give 3 causes of respiratory alkalosis:
1) pulmonary issues (PEs, pneumonia, asthma) 2) central issues (head injury, stroke, anxiety hyperventilation) 3) iatrogenic causes (excessive mechanical ventilation)
31
How do the kidneys compensate during respiratory alkalosis?
they decrease renal regeneration of bicarbonate
32
Give a key symptom of SEVERE respiratory alkalosis:
increased protein binding of Ca2+ leads to hypocalcaemia (headaches, lethargy, delirium, seizures)
33
Give 2 management techniques for respiratory alkalosis:
1) paper bag rebreathing 2) sedation and mechanical ventilation
34
Give the three crucial physiological pathways the kidney facilitates in acid-base homeostasis:
1) reabsorption of bicarbonate in the proximal tubule 2) excretion of H+ in the distal tubule 3) regeneration of bicarbonate in the distal tubule