respiratory acid base disorders

Question 1

what is the main cause of respiratory alkalosis ?

Answer 1

hyperventilation
may be due to pain , anxiety , aspirin overdose, high altitude exposure

Question 2

how does high latitude cause respiratory disorders ?

Answer 2

lower atmospheric pressure
lower pO2
hypoxia causes hyperventilation

Question 3

what are the levels of these parameters in high altitude ?

Answer 3

po2 - decreases
respiratory rate - increases
carbon dioxide - decreases
pH - increases

Question 4

how does the body acclimate to high altitudes ?

Answer 4

1- renal response - excrete HCo3, they may take acetazolamide to increase bicarb secretion
2- red cell response - synthesis of 2,3 biphosphoglycerate

Question 5

what is the mechanism of action of acetazolamide ?

Answer 5

a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Question 6

what are the acid base disorders associated with aspirin overdose ?

Answer 6

initially : respiratory alkalosis
hours later : AG metabolic acidosis

Question 7

what formula needs to be used with aspirin overdose ?

Answer 7

must use winters formula , but it will predict CO2 that is higher than expected
truly the CO2 will be lower than expected

Question 8

what is the main cause of respiratory acidosis ?

Answer 8

hypoventilation , may be due to opiates , CNS disease eg GB

Question 9

what is the renal compensation for respiratory acidosis ?

Answer 9

reabsorption of bicarbonate
classic example is COPD

Question 10

what are the effects of acute hypercapnia - and when is it seen ?

Answer 10

affect the CNS
may affects chronic lung disease patients due to an increased levels of CO2