Important Ranges Flashcards by Delia Archer

4.3 mEq/L Potassium

What does this value indicate?

Normal Potassium Level

Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

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96 mEq/L Chloride

What does this value indicate?

Low Chloride Level

Normal Range: 98 to 106 mEq/L

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7.37pH

What does this value indicate?

Normal pH balance

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7.24 pH

What does this value indicate?

The blood is abnormally acidic.

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8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

What range is this?

Normal Calcium Range

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Kussmaul respirations 
Changes in LOC 
Disorientation 
Muscle twitching 
What acid-base imbalance is this?

Metabolic Acidosis

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12 mEq/L Anions

What does this value indicate?

High anion 
gap

Greater than 
11 mEq/L 
(11 mmol/L) 

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7.0 mg/dL Calcium

What does this value indicate?

Low Calcium Level

Normal Range: 8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

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+1 mmol/L base access

What does this value indicate?

Normal Base Access

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20 mEq/L HCO3-

What does this value indicate?

Decreased HCO3−  indicates that the blood has too many metabolic acids.

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High pH
Low CO2
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Respiratory Alkalosis

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25 mEq/L HCO3-

What does this value indicate?

Normal HCO3-

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75 mm/HG PaO2

What does this value indicate?

Values below normal indicate poor oxygenation of the blood.

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Increase of any acid except HCl: 
Ketoacids (DKA, starvation, 
alcoholism), lactic acid (circulatory 
shock, extreme exercise), 
excessive normal metabolic acids 
(oliguric acute kidney injury, 
end-stage renal disease, severe 
hyperthyroidism, burns, severe 
infection), unusual organic acids 
(salicylate overdose, acids 
metabolized from methanol, 
ethylene glycol, paraldehyde)

This can cause what lab value abnormality?

High anion 
gap

Greater than 
11 mEq/L 
(11 mmol/L) 

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Rapid, shallow respirations
Dyspnea
Muscle weakness
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Respiratory Acidosis

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22-26 mEq/L (22-26 mmol/L)

What range is this?

HCO3-

Rationale:
HCO3-is concentration of the base (alkaline substance) bicarbonate, a measure of how well the kidneys  are  excreting  metabolic acids. 

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+3 mmol/L base excess

What does this value indicate?

Values above +2 indicate excessive 

amounts of bicarbonate.

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Low pH
High CO2
What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Respiratory Acidosis

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−2 to +2 mmol/L

What is this range?

Base excess 

Rationale: Base excess is  observed  buffering capacity minus the normal 
buffering capacity, a measure 
of how well the blood buffers are 
managing metabolic acids. 

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7.56 pH

What does this value indicate?

The blood is abnormally alkaline. 

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32 mm/HG PaCO2

What does this value indicate?

What is this caused by?

Decreased PaCO2 indicates excessive CO2 excretion (less carbonic acid) through hyperventilation.

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Slow respirations
Restlessness
Diarrhea 
Nausea & Vomiting
Arrhythmias

What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Metabolic Alkalosis

9.5 mg/dL Calcium

Normal Calcium Level

Normal Range: 8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

Excess output of bicarbonate: 
Diarrhea, pancreatic fistula,  
intestinal decompression, renal  
tubular acidosis 
Increase of chloride-containing acid:  
Parenteral HCl therapy

What causes this abnormal laboratory value?

Normal anion gap

49 mm/HG PaCO2 What does this value indicate? What is this caused by?

Increased PaCO2 indicates CO2 accumulation in blood (more carbonic acid) caused by hypoventilation.

Thisvalue is influenced by pH, PaCO2, and body temperature. It drops rapidly when PaO2 falls below  60 mm Hg (8 kPa).

Oxygen Saturation SaO2

8 mEq/L  Anions What does this value indicate?

Normal Anion Gap

29 mEq/L HCO3- What does this value indicate?

Increased HCO3- indicates that the blood has too few metabolic acids.

98 to 106 mEq/L What range is this?

Normal Chloride Range

95%-100% What range is this?

SaO2 Rationale: SaO2 is oxygen saturation, the percentage of hemoglobin that is carrying as much O2 as possible. 

5-11 mEq/L  Anions What range is this?

Normal anion gap

130 mEq/L Sodium What does this value indicate?

Low Sodium Level Normal Range: 135 to 145 mEq/L

80-100 mm/Hg (10.7-13.3 kPa) What range is this?

PaO2  Rationale: PaO2 is partial pressure of oxygen (O2), a measure of how well gas exchange is occurring in the  alveoli of the lungs. 

-3 mmol/L base excess What does this value indicate?

Values below −2 (negative base excess)  | indicate excessive metabolic acids.

135 to 145 mEq/L What range is this?

Normal Sodium Range

Low PH Low HCO3 What acid-base imbalance is this?

Metabolic Acidosis

102 mEq/L Chloride What does this value indicate?

Normal Chloride Level Normal Range: 98 to 106 mEq/L

155 mEq/L Sodium What does this value indicate?

High Sodium Level Normal Range: 135 to 145 mEq/L

97% SaO2 What does this value indicate?

Normal Oxygen Saturation

43 mm/HG PaCO2 What does this value indicate?

Normal PaCO2

5.4 mEq/L Potassium What does this value indicate?

High Potassium Level Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

35-45 mm/Hg (4.7-6 kPa) What range is this?

PaCO2 Rationale: PaCO2 is partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2), a measure of how well the lungs are excreting CO2  produced by cells. 

108 mEq/L Chloride What does this value indicate?

High Chloride Level Normal Range: 98 to 106 mEq/L

140 mEq/L Sodium What does this value indicate?

Normal Sodium Level Normal Range: 135 to 145 mEq/L

7.35-7.45 What range is this?

pH Rationale: Small changes in pH denote large changes in H+  concentration and are clinically important. pH is a negative logarithm of the free H+  concentration, a measure of how acid or alkaline the blood is. 

7.37pH What does this value indicate?

Normal pH balance

3.0 mEq/L Potassium What does this value indicate?

Low Potassium Level Normal Range: 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

Deep rapid breathing Seizures Confusion Tingling of Extremities What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Respiratory Alkalosis

90 mm/HG PaO2 What does this value indicate?

Normal PaO2

3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L What range is this?

Normal Potassium Range

High PH High HCO3 What acid-base imbalance symptoms are these?

Metabolic Alkalosis

17.5 mg/dL Calcium What does this value indicate?

High Calcium Level Normal Range: 8.5 mg/dL to 10.5 mg/dL

Inflate BP cuff on upper arm to 20 mm Hg above systolic pressure, carpal spasms within 2–5 min indicate tetany in hypocalcemia. What is this sign to indicate tetany called?

Trousseau’s Sign

Tap facial nerve 2 cm anterior to the earlobe just below the zygomatic arch; twitching of facial muscles indicates tetany in hypocalcemia. What is this sign to indicate tetany called?

Chvostek’s Sign