- Information
- AI Chat
Was this document helpful?
Acid Bases Balance - ABGs Explained
Course: Medical-Surgical Nursing III Clinical Laboratory (NUR 4257L)
7 Documents
Students shared 7 documents in this course
University: University of West Florida
Was this document helpful?
ACID
BASE
Normal
v What is your pH?
< 7.35 = acidic
7.35-7.45 = normal
> 7.45 = alkaline
Ø write ‘pH’ in the corresponding box in the top row
v What is the CO2? (remember, this is an acid)
> 45 = acidic
35-45 = normal
< 35 = alkaline
Ø write ‘CO2’ in the corresponding box
v What is the HCO3? (remember, this is a base)
< 21 = acidic
21-28 = normal
> 28 = alkaline
Ø Write HCO3 in corresponding box
Acid-Base Tic-Tac-Toe
v If the pH is in the base column = alkalosis
v If the pH is in the acid column = acidosis
v If PaCO2 aligns with the pH = respiratory
v If HCO3 aligns with the pH = metabolic
v If the pH is abnormal AND one system is normal = uncompensated
(the other system has not kicked in to correct it)
v If the pH is abnormal and CO2 and HCO3 are in opposite columns (acid & base) =
partially compensated
(the opposite system has gone to the opposite extreme to try and make up for the initial
problem)
v If the pH is normal and CO2 and HCO3 are opposite = fully compensated
Ø determine if the pH is closer to acidic or alkaline
(closer to 7.35 = acidic, closer to 7.45 = alkaline)
Ø whichever value is in the corresponding square determines metabolic vs acidosis
(HCO3 = metabolic, CO2 = respiratory)
