Acid Base Balance

Acidotic person

Lethargic

Alkalotic person

Excitable

Compensating Organs (Kidneys)

Remove excess acid and bicarbonate by excreting them through the urine.

Or

They can retain hydrogen and Bicarb and return to the blood.

They take hours to do their job.

Compensating Organs (Lungs)

One way to get rid of CO2 is to exhale

Hyperventilation = Decreased CO2 = Alkalosis

Hypoventilation = Increased CO2 = Acidosis

They respond fast

Increased CO2

Decreased O2 and LOC

Respiratory Acidosis causes

• Retain CO2

• Mid abdominal incision

• Narcotics

• Sleeping pills

• Pneumothorax

• Collapsed lung

• Pneumonia

Respiratory Acidosis symptoms

• Headache

• Confusion

• Sleepy

• If not corrected could lead to a coma

• Hypoxic

  • Restlessness

  • Tachycardia

Respiratory Acidosis treatment

• Fix the breathing problem

• Pneumothorax pt will have chest tubes

• Encourage post op clients to turn, cough, and deep breathe

Respiratory Alkalosis causes

Hyperventilation

Acute aspirin overdose

Respiratory Alkalosis symptoms

• Lightheaded / Faint feeling

• Peri oral numbness

• Numbness and tingling in fingers and toes

Respiratory Alkalosis treatment

• May have to sedate client to decrease RR

• Treat the cause

• Monitor ABGs

Metabolic Acidosis causes

• DKA

• Starvation

• Renal failure

• Severe diarrhea

Metabolic Acidosis symptoms

• Depends on the cause

• Hyperkalmeia

  • Muscle twitching, Muscle weakness, Flaccid paralysis, Arrhythmias

• Increased RR

  • Kussmaul respirations

Metabolic Acidosis treatment

Treat the cause

Metabolic Alkalosis causes

• Loss of upper GI contents (Vomit)

• Too many antacids

Metabolic Alkalosis symptoms

• Depends on the cause

• Observe LOC

• Hypokalemia

  • Monitor for muscle cramps and arrhythmias

Metabolic Alkalosis treatment

• Fix the problem

• Replace potassium

Respiratory Alkalosis

High PH

Low CO2

Respiratory Acidosis

Low PH

High CO2

Metabolic Alkalosis

High PH

High HCO3

Metabolic Acidosis

Low PH

Low HCO3