Arterial blood gases
ABG analysis assesses a patient's partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and
carbon dioxide
(PaCO2).
Henderson Hasselbalch Equation :
pH = pK + log[conjugate base]/[acid]
the most important buffer system in the body is the carbonic acid/bicarbonate
system due to the physiological control of its component parts by the lungs and
kidneys. This relationship is shown as:
CO2 + H2O H2CO3 H+ + HCO3–
↔ ↔
The 6 step approach
Acidemic or Alkalemic
Is the primary disturbance respiratory or metabolic
If Respiratory, is it acute or chronic
If Metabolic, is there an anion gap?
Co existing metabolic disorders?
Compensation
Step - 1
Acidemic or Alkalemic
Acidemic : pH < 7.35
Alkalemic : pH > 7.45
Step - 2
Is the primary disturbance Respiratory or
Metabolic
respiratory DISoRDERS :
Respiratory disorder will alter the PaCO2
High CO2 in acidosis ,Low CO2 in alkalosis
Respiratory Acidosis
Acute :
pH = 0.08 x (PaCO2 – 40 ) /10
Chronic :
pH = 0.03 x (PaCO2 – 40 ) /10
METABOLIC DISORDERS :
Step - 4
Metabolic disorder will alter the HCO3.
HCO3 < 22, metabolic acidosis
HCO3 >26 ,metabolic alkalosis
oHypovolemia with Cl- depletion
oGI loss of H+ :Vomiting, gastric suction, , diarrhea with chloride-rich fluid
oRenal loss H+ :Loop and thiazide diuretics etc
oHypervolemia, Cl- expansion
oRenal loss of H+:
edematous states (heart failure, cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome),
hyperaldosteronism, hypercortisolism, excess ACTH, exogenous steroids, hyperreninemia,
severe hypokalemia, renal artery stenosis, bicarbonate administration
METABOLIC ACIDOSIS :
CHECK ANION GAP
Anion Gap = Na- (Cl + HCO3)
Normal :12 +/- 2 meq
High Anion Gap Metabolic acidosis : AG > 12
Non Anion Gap acidosis : AG < 12
In a normal anion gap acidosis,
bicarbonate is lost from the gut or the
kidneys and there is a raised chloride,
which compensates for the extra
cations, thus keeping the gap normal.
This occurs as a result of reabsorption
of sodium chloride via the kidneys:
COMPENSATION
Metabolic acidosis:-
pCO2 = 1.5 X HCO3 + 8 +/- 2 (WHINTERS FORMULA)
Metabolic alkalosis:-
each 1mEq/L increase in HCO3- will increase 0.6mmhg of pCO2
Respiratory acidosis:-
Acute – each 10mmHg increase in pCO2 will increase 1mEqL of HCO3-
Chronic - each 10mmHg increase in pCO2 will increase 3.5mEqL of HCO3-
Respiratory alkalosis:
Acute - each 10mmHg decrease in pCO2 will decrease 2mEqL of HCO3-
Chronic - each 10mmHg decrease in pCO2 will decrease 5mEqL of HCO3-