Breanna Riesgraf's Personal Meeting Room

Study Tips for the Exam

• Avoid Cramming:

  • Start studying early to absorb content effectively.

  • Break material into small, manageable increments.

Acid-Base Balance Overview

• Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs):

  • Normal pH: 7.35 - 7.45

  • Normal CO2: 35 - 45 mmHg

    • Share process approximately 38 - 44 mmHg (subset of normal).

  • Normal Bicarbonate (HCO3): 22 - 26 mEq/L

Systems Regulating ABGs

• Two Main Systems:

  • Lungs (Respiratory system)

  • Kidneys (Metabolic system)

• Diagnosis Terminology:

  • Conditions related to ABGs described as Respiratory or Metabolic.

Respiratory Acidosis

• Characteristics:

  • pH: Decreased

  • CO2: Increased

  • Key Symptoms:

    • Breathing is generally slow.

    • Symptoms due to CO2 retention: Headaches, fatigue, muscle weakness.

  • Kidney Compensation:

    • Kidneys attempt to compensate by retaining bicarbonate.

  • Rome Method:

    • pH down (acidosis), CO2 up (acid retention) indicates opposite.

Respiratory Alkalosis

• Characteristics:

  • pH: Increased

  • CO2: Decreased

  • Common Causes of Fast Breathing:

    • Panic attacks and pain.

    • Potentially in COPD patients, though they usually retain CO2.

Metabolic Acidosis

• Characteristics:

  • pH: Decreased

  • Bicarbonate: Decreased

  • Common Causes:

    • Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), Diarrhea.

  • Diarrhea generally leads to loss of bicarbonate indirectly from the intestines.

  • Metabolic Alkalosis: Related to vomiting as it involves loss of gastric acid.

Practice ABGs Analysis

• Analyze given ABGs: Identify if pH is higher, lower, or normal

  • Determine the degrees of compensation recognition:

    • Normal bicarbonate indicates uncompensated; abnormal indicates compensated.

• Example Practice:

  • pH Normal, CO2 Normal, Bicarbonate Normal: Interpret as normal.

  • Compensated vs. Uncompensated:

    • If both matching values are abnormal, it's compensated.

    • If one is normal, it's uncompensated.

Key Questions to Review

• Discuss any additional questions regarding ABGs with classmates or professor for clarity.

• Identify potential case studies that apply acid-base implications to patient conditions.

Additional Resources

• Professor Kruger's video series and reviews recommended for further study on ABGs.

• Explore different methods (like Rome method and ABBA method) for understanding acid-base balance.

Closing Thoughts

• Keep practicing with ABGs and understanding symptoms associated with acid-base disorders.

• Reach out with questions and be proactive in seeking help with complex topics.