Introduction to Acid-Base Balance Flashcards
name 3 buffers systems that help to control the pH of the body
- phosphate
- protein
- bicarb
respiratory compensation
deep, rapid breathing when body senses high [H+]
slow, shallow breathing when [H+] is low
how fast does respiratory compensation work?
1-3 minutes
what are the steps to ascertain the presence of an acid base disorder?
- consider clinical setting, come up w/ a guess Dx
- acidemic or alkalemic (pH)
- respiratory or metabolic?
- if metabolic acidosis, gap or no gap?
- is compensation appropriate?
- are there multiple disorders?
how do you determine if a disorder is metabolic or respiratory?
look at direction of PCO2 and bicarb
metabolic: bicarb goes down, causing pH to go down, pCO2 goes down due to compensation
respiratory: pCO2 goes up, causing pH to drop, bicarb goes up due to compensation
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient has a PE?
respiratory alkalosis
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient has hypotension/decreased perfusion?
metabolic acidosis
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient is vomiting?
metabolic alkalosis
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient has severe diarrhea?
metabolic acidosis (non-gap)
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient has cirrhosis?
respiratory alkalosis (progesterone effect-causes pt. to hyperventilate)
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient has renal failure?
metabolic acidosis
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient is septic?
respiratory alkalosis/metabolic acidosis
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient is pregnant?
respiratory alkalosis (progesterone effect-causes pt. to hyperventilate)
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient is on diuretics?
metabolic alkalosis
what acid base disorder would you expect if a patient has COPD?
respiratory acidosis
