CO2 and hydration

Low serum CO2 means they're acidotic. Could be lots of reasons though.

I agree. A low CO2 can indicate a metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation. However, one must be careful with generalizations. I would never assume all people with a low CO2 would be dehydrated.

Recently a fellow nurse told me that if someone's CO2 is low it means they are dehydrated. I had never heard this before and was wondering if any of you had, and if so, how the two are related.

I do not think you can make a direct correlation between dehydration and CO2 levels. However, dehydration can lead to hypoperfusion and lactic acid production. A degree of metabolic acidosis can be expected in people who are dehydrated. This is especially true with carpet commandos. In addition, with decreased fluid levels comes decreased renal perfusion and the retention of hydrogen ions, leading to a metabolic acidosis. I know many clinicians will utilize the venous CO2 in the SMA-12 or SMA-7 as supporting evidence for a patient they suspect is dehydrated.

I do not think you can make a direct correlation between dehydration and CO2 levels. However, dehydration can lead to hypoperfusion and lactic acid production. A degree of metabolic acidosis can be expected in people who are dehydrated. This is especially true with carpet commandos. In addition, with decreased fluid levels comes decreased renal perfusion and the retention of hydrogen ions, leading to a metabolic acidosis. I know many clinicians will utilize the venous CO2 in the SMA-12 or SMA-7 as supporting evidence for a patient they suspect is dehydrated.

Is dehydration not hypovolemic shock?

Is infection equal sepsis??8) The question was that dehydration is related to co2 content. My point is that for that to happen alot of change have to happen to the acid/base balance to create a change therefore we enter in an other category and should be threated other wise as well. If i have someone that is alittle bit dry cause I came back from a hike and didn't drink much. I don't think I would consider doing an ABG. But if the same person show sign of change in there vitals enough to have a hYpovulemic shock, my nursing would be diffrent. I would pay more attention to that person. But just like sepsis, sepsis shock. every thing as name cause they are more advance on the continum. No ?

Is dehydration not hypovolemic shock?

I do understand your point. However, you need not do an ABG to obtain a venous CO2. This vaue shows up on your average everyday SMA-7 or SMA-12. (BMP/CMP) So, if I had a dehydrated patient (especially a kiddo), I would not be suprised to see a low venous CO2. Good discussion by the way.

I do understand your point. However, you need not do an ABG to obtain a venous CO2. This vaue shows up on your average everyday SMA-7 or SMA-12. (BMP/CMP) So, if I had a dehydrated patient (especially a kiddo), I would not be suprised to see a low venous CO2. Good discussion by the way.

just popping in to say go team! great discussion and way to keep it civil! we need more of this kind of spirit of debate on these boards! :w00t:

I do understand your point. However, you need not do an ABG to obtain a venous CO2. This vaue shows up on your average everyday SMA-7 or SMA-12. (BMP/CMP) So, if I had a dehydrated patient (especially a kiddo), I would not be suprised to see a low venous CO2. Good discussion by the way.

just looking at labs, i would say one lab that could help differentiate uncomplicated dehydration from a hypovolemic shock state would be the serum lactate. in addition, abg findings and serum potassium levels will provide us with allot of information. hard to say when the co2 level will change. it does seem to occur more often in the pedi population.

phiposurde, thanks for the good debate.

here is a link to research on etco2 monitoring used to assess the level of acidosis in carpet commandos with gastroenteritis.