ABG Analysis

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Specializes in NICU.

Anyone have an easy way of explaining this to me? I keep reading over this chapter and it's just getting all jumbled in my head.

Respiratory acidosis/alkalosis, Metabolic acidosis/alkalosis .... I really just don't understand the "compensation" part of this. How do I know if it's uncompensated or compensated?

Can anyone give me any ideas here, please! My brain is starting to hurt :rolleyes:

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

This was the hardest yet most interesting part of nursing school for me along with hemodynamics. Probably why I ended up in the ICU! :)

Check out this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93156

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Anyone have an easy way of explaining this to me? I keep reading over this chapter and it's just getting all jumbled in my head.

Respiratory acidosis/alkalosis, Metabolic acidosis/alkalosis .... I really just don't understand the "compensation" part of this. How do I know if it's uncompensated or compensated?

Can anyone give me any ideas here, please! My brain is starting to hurt :rolleyes:

Simple -

If the pH is normal, it is compensated (body has compensated for the problem through it's own pathways, thus normalizing the pH)

If the pH is abnormal, it is UNcompensated (body has not compensated for the problem or body's compensation mechanisms were ineffective).

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Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

This is the really quick, non detailed way that I think about it (without getting into compensation or mixed/acid base issues)

First, I look at pH...normal is 7.35-7.45...So is the pH that I am looking at normal? If yes, than everything is fine or something is compensating to make it normal.

Next I think respiratory (the faster of the two systems)...this is the paco2...normal is 35-45 (I remember this number because it reminds me of the normal pH...after the decimal point that is...). paco2 and pH work like a see-saw....if one is low the other is high...ie: if the paco2 is low (7.45- you have respiratory alkalosis...(the patient is probably hyperventilating due to come cause).... On the other hand, if the pH is low (45) it is respiratory acidosis--hypoventilation (again your job to figure out why).

Next I think about metabolic (the slower of the two systems)...this is reflected by the hco3....normal is 22-26...pH and hco3 work in tandem (vs. the see-saw like paco2 and pH). So, if your pH is low (7.35) and your hco3 is low (7.45) and your hco3 is high (>26) you have metabolic alkalosis going on....again there are various reasons for these situations but it is more in-depth and requires more typing....

FYI: check out the thread that begalli directed you to...some good easy to follow info on that thread!

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This was the hardest yet most interesting part of nursing school for me along with hemodynamics. Probably why I ended up in the ICU! :)

Check out this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93156

Thanks for the link! I've been a med/surge nurse now for 4 1/2 yrs and I STILL have a hard time w/ ABGs. It can never hurt to do a refresher!

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Specializes in NICU.

begalli, RN4NICU, zambezi ..... thank you all so much!!!! That really helped a lot. And thank you to NurseFirst and ILuvBabies that posted info on the other thread too. All of that info helped a lot .... and those links with the practice problems on it, very helpful!!

It was just all so jumbled in my head, and now it makes a lot more sense, took my exam today and I think I did very well! Thanks again!! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
...took my exam today and I think I did very well!

:yeah:

Yay!!!

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Hey, I learned something too..

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