Respiratory Failure Flashcards
(97 cards)
What is an ABG? What does it measure
Identifies respiratory and metabolic condition and measures how they are progressing with their diseas-state
PaO2
SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation)
PaCO2 (PCO2)
pH
Bicarbonate (main buffering system)
what does little a demonstrate
arteriolar pressure
Who draws ABG? And where is it stuck?
Typically respiratory therapist inpatient
Put on ice and then done w/in 15 minutes
What do you need to check and why before ABG?
Modified allen test
Check patency of ulnar side to make sure there
Where is the majority of O2 seen?
Arterial oxygen saturation
Most of O2 that diffuses from the alveolus to the pulmonary capillary binds to hemoglobin
SaO2 is the proportion of RBCs with hemoglobin bound to O2
Most commonly measured by pulse oximetry
Level below 95% considered abnormal but needs to be below 89% to qualify for home O2 per Medicare guidelines
What is the marker of oxygenation in a patient?
PaO2, only makes up 2% of the oxygen
But it is NOT picked up by hemoglobin
What is an abnormal PaO2?
Considered abnormal if less then 80mmHg but needs to be 55mmHg or less to qualify for home oxygen per Medicare guidelines
What is the best marker of ventilation?
PaCO2
basically indicates the amount of hydrogen ions
What is a normal PaCO2
Considered abnormal if above 45mmHg or below 35mmHg
How do you blow off CO2?
Carbon dioxide is an acidic gas so rapid or deep inspiration can “blow off CO2” and cause rapid respiratory alkalosis
What is the most important buffer in the body and what regulates it?
Bicarbonate
Generated and excreted by the kidneys
What is a slower response to abnormal pH?
The kidneys regulating bicarb
What pH of the blood is healthy?
7.4
> 7.45 alkelemia
<7.35 acidemia
What is the carbonic acid/bicarbonate buffering system equation?
Left side respiratory
Right side renal
CO2 + H20 –> H2CO3 –> HCO3 + H+
What is pH determined by
the ratio of HCO3/PaCO2
bicarb/H+
When compensating for an acid-base balance, what is important to keep in mind?
Compensation does NOT overshoot
How to calculate an A-a gradient?
Difference between A (alveoli)-a
How is a normal A-a gap calculated based on age?
(Age+10)/4
What does an A-a gradient tell us if normal or elevated?
How it helps determine cause of hypoxemia
If normal
Hypoventilation
Low inspired O2
If elevated
V/Q mismatch
Shunt
Impaired diffusion
What are the steps to interpreting an ABG?
- pH (pH < 7.35 is acidemia, pH > 7.45 is alkalemia) primary disorder
- Look at PaCO2 and see if it is respiratory (Respiratory acidosis – PaCO2 >45 Respiratory alkalosis – PaCO2 <35)
- Look at Bicarb level (An HCO3 level below 22 indicates metabolic acidosis, An HCO3 above 26 indicates metabolic alkalosis)
What is the goal of compensation?
Get to normal range, but often does not happen
Complete or incomplete based on whether or not it gets back to normal range
What are ideal pH, PaCO2, HCO3?
pH = 7.4
PaCO2 = 40
HCO3 = 24
What is this? pH = 7.32
PaCO2 = 52
HCO3 = 19
Mixed acidosis (combined metabolic and respiratory acidosis)
What is this?
pH = 7.34
PaCO2 = 50
HCO3 = 31
Respiratory acidosis with incomplete metabolic compensation
might have COPD with pneumonia, with acute