Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis Flashcards
What maintains acid-base balance in the body?
- lungs
- kidneys
- buffers
What disrupts acid-base balance in the body?
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- respiratory failure
- kidney failure
- infections and ingestions
What is the normal serum pH?
7.35 - 7.45
Blood pH is determined by?
the ratio of serum bicarbonate concentration
1. ([HCO3-]) – normal 22 to 26 and
2. partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2) – normal 38 to 42mmHg
Principles of acid-base diroders?
- Metabolic acid-base disorders and secondary metabolic compensation alter [HCO3-]
- Respiratory acid-base disorders and secondary respiratory compensation alter (PaCO2)
Why is pH so important?
- Subtle changes in pH cause large shifts in acid-base pair
- Determines how drugs disperse and bind and how enzymes react
- Proteins function within narrow spectrum of pH
Acidemia and Alkalemia?
- Acidemia: serum pH < 7.36
- Alkalemia: serum pH > 7.44
Acidosis and Alkalosis?
- Acidosis: pathologic process that lowers [HCO3-] or raises PaCO2
- Alkalosis: pathologic process that raises [HCO3-] or lowers PaCO2
What are physiologic buffers?
Oppose significant changes in pH
Name the physiologic buffers?
- Bicarbonate/Carbonic acid system
- Located primarily in RBCs
- H+ + HCO3- <> H2CO3 <> H2O + CO2 - Intracellular protein buffers
- Phosphate buffers
- Located within bone
What is pulmonary compensation?
Peripheral chemoreceptors in the carotid bodies and central chemoreceptors in the medulla change minute ventilation
- Decreased pH > increased minute ventilation > decreased PaCO2
Note; does not fully correct pH but returns it toward normal over many hours
What is the anion gap?
- Estimates unmeasured anions in plasma
e.g. albumin, sulfates, proteins, ketoacids - Used to define or characterize metabolic acidosis
What is the anion gap equation?
AG = Na+ - (Cl- + HCO3-)
Normal = 12 +/- 3 mEq/L
∆G will be used in mixed disorders
What is respiratory acidosis?
- Decreased pH due to pulmonary CO2 retention
- Excess H2CO3 production leads to acidemia
- H+ + HCO3- <> H2CO3 <> H2O + CO2
Acute vs chronic respiratory acidosis?
- Acute respiratory acidosis has normal HCO3-
- Chronic respiratory acidosis has elevated HCO3- due to renal retention