Help! Acid-Base Imbalances

[Happified.]

My professor gave us a couple of practice problems. For the most part I understand, but I want to be sure.

So we had,

Client A: pH= 7.1

pCO2= 40 mm Hg

[HCO3] is low

My answer: Metabolic Acidosis.

My rationale: The pH is low, so it reflects acidosis

pCO2 is normal because its between 35-45 mm Hg

The HCO3 is low, so its a metabolic problem

Client B: pH= 7.1

pCO2= 60 mm Hg

[HCO3] is normal

My answer: Respiratory Acidosis.

My rationale: The pH is low, so it reflects acidosis

pCO2 is high because the normal pCO2 is 35-45 mm Hg. So since its high its a respiratory problem.

Client C: pH= 7.25

pCO2= 65 mm Hg

[HCO3] is high

My answer: Respiratory Acidosis Compensation.

My rationale: The pH is normal.

pCO2 is high because its above 35-45 mm Hg

The HCO3 is high also.

So since the PCO2 is high and the HCO3 is high its a compensation.

For Client C how do you determine if its Respiratory or Metabolic if their moth abnormal?

[ukstudent]

A and B are correct. The answer to C is respiratory acidosis partially compensated. Not fully compensated.

A high bicarb level would not cause the pt to be acidotic, rather that is the bodies response to the acidosis. The acidosis is being caused by the CO2 level, therefor it is respiratory acidosis.

It is only partially compensated because the pH level is not in the normal range, 7.35-7.45. If you had the same CO2 level and HCO3 level with a pH of say 7.36, then the answer would be respiratory acidosis fully compensated.

[Happified.]

Thank you sooo much, I understand and see my error.

[newbiepnp, MSN, RN, NP, CNS]

Which class was this in? We only touched on this in Fundamentals, but he really wasn't clear.

[Happified.]

Pathophysiology.