Respiratory Acidosis and Alkalosis Flashcards
Normal Arterial blood gas
HCO3- = 24 PaCO2= 40 PaO2= 95
Alveolar gas normal
PaCO2= 36 PaO2= 105
Venous blood gas normal
PvCO2= 50 PvO2= 30-40
Respiratory acidosis
Build up of CO2 in blood
pH more acidic
Brough about by some form of breathing difficulty
Resp acidosis MOA
CO2 accumulates if lungs don’t dispel it through alveolar ventilation
Alveolar hypoventilation
Increased PCO2- hypercapnia
–> decrease in blood pH
Resp acidosis main causes
Hypoventilation due to drugs that suppress breathing
Diseases of airway
Diseases of chest (scoliosis)
Diseases that affect nerves + muscles that drive lungs to inflate or deflate
Severe obesity
Degree of change in blood pH depends on
Body’s ability to buffer the excess CO2
Henderson-Hasselbach equation
pH= 6.1 + log [(HCO3-)/0.03 x pCO2]
pH
log(1/[H+])
pKa
6.1 at body temp
Resp acidosis chemicals
High PaCO2 (>40mmHg) Slightly raised HCO3- (>24mmHg) Ratio of [HCO3-]/pCO2 decreases -->pH also decreases
Resp Acidosis symptoms explanation
CO2 lipid soluble gas- diffuse across BBB
HCO3- = ion, can’t enter CSF
–> CSF less buffered than blood so pH changes faster in response to CO2
Resp acidosis symptoms
Headache Drowsiness Lethargy Anxiety Sleepiness
Resp acidosis Signs
Slow breathing Gait disturbance Blunted deep tendon reflexes Disorientation Tremor Myoclenic jerks Papilloedema Tachycardia BP drop
Resp Acidosis Diagnosis
pH<7.35
pCO2 >45mmHg
Blood sample for pH
ABG
Resp Acidosis Treatment
Aimed at underlying lung disease
–> bronchodilators, ventilation, O2, smoking cessation
Acute Resp acidosis findings
pCO2 > 6.3kPa/47mmHg
pH<7.35
Acute resp acidosis
When an abrupt failure of ventilation occurs
Acute resp acidosis Causes
Depression of central resp. centre by cerebral disease or drugs
Inability to ventilate adequately due to neuromuscular disease
Airway obstruction related to asthma or COPD
Chronic Resp Acidosis findings
pCO2 > 6.3kPa/47mmHg
pH normal or near normal
Chronic Resp Acidosis MOA
pH nearly normal because renal compensation–> produced a highly elevated serum bicarbonate
Chronic resp acidosis Causes
Hypoventilation COPD
Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Neuromuscular disorders
Severe restrictive ventilatory defects
Metabolic compensation for Resp Acidosis
Kidneys generate + retain bicarbonate
Bicarb retention sometimes called “compensating metabolic alkalosis”
Maximum plasma HCO3- level reached this way is 45mmol/L
Respiratory Alkalosis
Amount of CO2 in blood drops below normal
pH more alkaline
Usually due to hyperventilation
Resp Alkalosis MOA
CO2 expelled too much
H+ and HCO3- ions in plasma react (via carbonic anhydrase) to make more CO2
Decrease in circulation H+ –> increased pH
Acute Resp Alkalosis Symptoms
Dizziness Lightheaded Agitation Confusion Cramps Tinging
Acute Resp Alkalosis Signs
Muscle twitching Hyperpnoea Chest pain Blurred vision Spasms Weakness Seizures
Chronic Resp Alkalosis Signs + symptoms
Asymptomatic
No distinctive signs
Resp Alkalosis Main causes
Intracerebral haemorrhage Meningitis Stroke Drug usage Anxiety Stress Sepsis
Any lung disease that leads to shortness of breath
Acute Resp Alkalosis
Rapid
Person may lose consciousness
Chronic Resp Alkalosis
Asymptomatic due to metabolic compensation
Kidneys excrete more bicarbonate –> gives a metabolic acidosis to compete with resp alkalosis
Compensation complete in 7-10 days
Resp Alkalosis body changes
Cerebral BV constriction
Impaired O2 delivery
Increase neuromuscular excitability
Hypokalaemia
K in Chronic Resp Acidosis
Protons excreted in kidney
Potassium retained
Hyperkalaemia
K in Chronic Resp Alkalosis
Protons retained in kidney
K excreted
Hypokalaemia
Resp Alkalosis Diagnosis
pH > 7.44
pCO2 <35mmHg
Resp Alkalosis Treatment
Treat underlying condition Hyperventilation- breathe into paper bag Pneumonia- antimicrobials Drug overdose- Poisoning treatment Mechanical ventilation if necessary
Type 1 Resp Failure
Hypoxic
pO2 < 60mmHg
pCO2 normal or low
Most common
Type 2 Resp Failure
Hypercapnic
pCO2 > 50mmHg
pO2 normal or low
O2 and CO2 diffusion in lungs
CO2 diffuses in and out much faster as steeper conc. gradient between blood + alveoli
CO2 can be maintained at normal levels even with reduced ventilation
Type 1 Resp failure examples
Pulmonary oedema
Pneumonia
Pulmonary haemorrhage
Ventilation/perfusion mismatch
If lobe poorly ventilated, capillaries + arterioles constrict –> reduced blood flow
Type 1 complications
If area of lung constricted then downstream alveoli hypoxic –> local capillaries constrict
–> even less O2 to affected region
Anion gap
[Na+] - ([Cl-] + [HCO3-]) = 12 mEq/L
Measures amount of unmeasured anions
High anion gap
Loss of plasma bicarbonate
- -> elevated of anions like lactate
- -> METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
Normal anion gap but still unwell
GI loss of bicarbonate due to vom
Renal loss of bicarb due to renal damage
Bicarb low but chlorine high