Scribd
Upload
54 views5 pages

Acid Base Study Guide

This document provides an overview of acid-base imbalances, including normal values, controlling organs, a 3-step approach to interpretation, and descriptions of respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and metabolic alkalosis. It explains that pH, CO2, and HCO3 levels should be evaluated to determine the type of imbalance based on whether the values are increased or decreased.

Uploaded by

Alex Chicas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
54 views5 pages

Acid Base Study Guide

This document provides an overview of acid-base imbalances, including normal values, controlling organs, a 3-step approach to interpretation, and descriptions of respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and metabolic alkalosis. It explains that pH, CO2, and HCO3 levels should be evaluated to determine the type of imbalance based on whether the values are increased or decreased.

Uploaded by

Alex Chicas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

Acid Base Imbalances

Hi New Friend!

In this acid­base guide you’ll find brevity in only some of the highest yield “must­know”
content for your exams. This one is ​solely focused​ on basics of acid base.

For even more content or to be able to remember all of these facts (and more) simply
visit our website at ​
www.picmonic.com​ or click on one of the direct topic links below.

Good Luck Studying!


­Wm. Kendall Wyatt RN, EMTP
Content Director
Picmonic, Inc

Twitter: ​
@PicmonicKendall
Youtube: @PicmonicVideo

LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE?

LEARN THE
PICMONICS

TAKE A
QUIZ

VIEW AN
INTRO VIDEO

Images © Picmonic Inc 2016 Page 1


Acid Base Imbalances

Acid Base Imbalances

First : Know the normal values and function


Second: Know the function and controlling organ
Third: Interpret in three steps!

Normal Values and Function

● pH
○ Normal Blood: 7.​
35​
­7.​
45
○ Low Numbers (Acidosis) ­­­­ High Numbers (Alkalosis)
● CO2 (Carbonic ACID)
○ Normal: 35 ­ 45
○ CO2 is ACIDIC
○ Primarily regulated by LUNGS/RESPIRATORY
○ ****Remember that you BLOW OFF CO2
■ Breathing faster and deeper will blow off more CO2
● Decreasing acid in body
■ Not breathing will cause a BUILDUP of CO2
● Increasing acid in body
○ You can remember pH and CO2 by remembering 7 and 35­45 since they are the same.
● HCO3 (Bicarbonate)
■ Normal: 22 ­ 26
■ HCO3 is BASIC/ ALKALINE
■ Primarily regulated by KIDNEYS/ METABOLIC
■ Slow to respond (Requires about 12­24 hours to compensate and change levels)

HOW TO INTERPRET:

■ Step 1: Evaluate pH
● Below 7.35 = Decreasing (Acidic)
● Above 7.45 = Increasing (Alkalotic)
● MAKE LITTLE ARROWS AND WRITE DOWN HALF OF YOUR ANSWER
(ACIDIC/ALKALOTIC)
■ Step 2: Evaluate CO2
● Below 35 = Decreasing
● Above 45 = Increasing

Images © Picmonic Inc 2016 Page 2


Acid Base Imbalances
● LOOK AT YOUR ARROWS:
○ Is the CO2 Arrow going ​
OPPOSITE?
■ Write Down ​ RESPIRATORY​
, and you’re done.
● ​AME​
CO2 going S Direction pH?
○ Evaluate ​
HCO3​ ​
STEP 3
■ Step 3: Evaluate HCO3
● HCO3 should be going in the same direction
● WRITE DOWN ​ METABOLIC

● CO2 = Controlled by Lungs = You Blow off CO2 = by breathing IN and OUT in
OPPOSITE directions. “Respiratory Opposite”
■ HCO3 = Controlled by kidneys = You pee our bicarb = by letting it all go out one
direction.

Disorder Overview
● Respiratory Acidosis

■ What kind of breathing causes building of CO2?


● SLOW/NOT BREATHING (Unable to
blow off CO2)
● Causes:
○ Mechanical Ventilation:
Underventilation
○ CNS Depression
■ Head Injury
■ Opiates, Benzodiazepines!
■ Respiratory Acidosis Labs
● pH = DOWN
● CO2 = UP
● HCO3 = Early ­ Normal / Late ­ UP

● Respiratory Alkalosis

■ What kind of breathing causes blowing off too much CO2?


● Hyperventilation!
● Anxiety
● Mechanical Ventilation: Hyperventilation

■ Respiratory Alkalosis Labs


● pH = UP
● CO2 = DOWN

Images © Picmonic Inc 2016 Page 3


Acid Base Imbalances
● HCO3 = Early ­ Normal / Late ­ DOWN

● Metabolic Acidosis
■ Often seen in ESRD, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Lactic Acidosis
■ Think DOWN, DOWN, DOWN
■ Decreased pH, Decreased CO2, Decreased HCO3
■ These patients will immediately attempt to balance their low amount of HCO3 with their
respiratory status by blowing off CO2:
● Kussmaul's Breathing (Hyperventilation)
■ Metabolic Acidosis Labs
● pH = DOWN
● CO2 = DOWN
● HCO3 = DOWN
● Metabolic Alkalosis
■ Often seen in patients with excessive vomiting, diarrhea, excessive antacid use, diuretics
● They lose too much acid and have too much HCO3
■ Think UP, UP, UP!
■ Increased pH, Increased CO2, Increased HCO3
■ These patients may attempt to compensate by decreasing respirations to build up acid in
an attempt to correct pH.
■ Metabolic​ Alkalosis Labs
● pH = UP
● CO2 = UP
● HCO3 = UP

Images © Picmonic Inc 2016 Page 4


Acid Base Imbalances

LOOKING FOR EVEN MORE?

LEARN THE
PICMONICS

TAKE A
QUIZ

VIEW AN
INTRO VIDEO

Images © Picmonic Inc 2016 Page 5

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy