ABGs + Fluid Electrolytes

normal pH range

7.35 - 7.45

• <7.35 = indication of acidity

• >7.45 = indication of alkalinity (more basic)

normal CO2 range

35-45

• >45 = indication of increased CO2 within system (respiratory - not breathing out efficiently, causes CO2 buildup + inc. acidity)

• <35 = indication of decreased CO2 within system (respiratory - breathing out too fast, expelling high amt. of CO2, causes akalinity)

normal HCO3 range

(bicarbonate)

22-26

metabolic acidosis

• Kussmaul respirations (deep, rapid)

• lethargy

• fatigue

• nausea, vomiting

• hyperkalemia (K+ is released extracellularly to try + compensate for the H+ rushing intracellularly)

causes of metabolic acidosis

• diarrhea:

  • losing HCO3, causes blood to become acidic (not enough HCO3 - <22; nothing to neutralize the acidity, causes acidosis)

respiratory acidosis

• confusion

• headache

• hypoventilation

causes of respiratory acidosis

lungs cannot efficiently expel CO2, leads to acidity within system

• COPD

• pulmonary edema

  • in both cases, air is going to be trapped within the lungs (lungs won’t be able to exhale CO2 = respiratory acidosis)

metabolic alkalosis

• hypoventilation

• hypokalemia (K+ is rushing intracellularly to compensate for extracellular levels of HCO3)

causes of metabolic alkalosis

recurrent vomiting:

• vomiting stomach acid —> stomach produces more acid to compensate for acid loss —> too much HCO3 —> blood becomes basic (HCO3 neutralizes H+)

uncompensated

• pH abnormal

• CO2 normal

• HCO3 normal

• the renal + respiratory systems are not compensating for the pH of the body, so the pH remains at an abnormal level

partially compensated

• pH abnormal

• CO2 abnormal

• HCO3 abnormal

• everything is abnormal here bc the renal + respiratory systems are in the middle of actively working on compensating for the pH (they’re not done w/ their work yet — “trust the process”)

fully compensated

• pH normal

• CO2 abnormal

• HCO3 abnormal

• the renal + respiratory systems have worked to compensate for the abnormal pH, and in the process they have shifted their values into abnormal ranges