I need help with blood gases.

ukstudent · Mar 10, 2007

Your teacher has confused you. CO2 is respiratory, Bicarb is metabolic.

First check ph. If acid, is it because the CO2 is too high (respiratory acidosis) or because the bicarb is too low (metabolic acidosis)?

If base, is it beacuse the CO2 is too low(respiratory alkalosis) or the bicarb is too high (metabolic alkalosis).

If the other value is not normal but the ph is still off then the body is try to compensate. If ph is just in the mormal range but all the values are off then the body has fully compensated. I hope this helps you.

Myxel67 · Mar 10, 2007

According to my teacher this semester, if:
- PaO2 is decreased the person cannot inspire adequately - makes sense
- PaCO2 is increase person cannot expire adequately- makes sense
- pH I understand
- now if the HCO3 is increased, the person has respiratory alkalosis, if its decrease the person is compensating by respiratory alkalosis
Now I thought that if the bicarb is off, the person has/is in metabolic acid/alka. I dont understand how bicarb also determines respiratory. Nor do I know how to determine whether the person is in respirtory or metabolic. I thought I had this down, but these semester it seems weird. I'm totally confused.
Can someone educate me on basic blood gases?

Are you sure this is what your teacher said? Increased HCO3 can mean that the body is trying to compensate for respiratory acidosis. But the kidneys work much more slowly to compensate, so HCO3 might be only a little above normal. Increased HCO3 can also indicate metabolic alkalosis. pH will help you determine which is the case.

kimmie518 · Mar 10, 2007

Are you sure this is what your teacher said? Increased HCO3 can mean that the body is trying to compensate for respiratory acidosis. But the kidneys work much more slowly to compensate, so HCO3 might be only a little above normal. Increased HCO3 can also indicate metabolic alkalosis. pH will help you determine which is the case.

I'm positive this is that she said. She gives us power points for class and I took it directly from that. It's also mentioned somewhere else in our note packet. She only wants us to be able to determine very basic blood gases, no compensatory mechanisms. I think I'm gonna email her.

MommyJoy · Mar 10, 2007

Our teacher told use to use the word ROME. Respiratory Opposite Metabolic Equal. If it is respiratory pH is the opposite direction of PCO2. When it is Metabolic pH and Bicarb go the same direction.

If you need more help with blood gases, get the book Fluids and Electrolytes Made Incredibly Easy. It is the best book I have every bought.