Need help with ABG Analysis

Published

pH- 7.36 - Normal

PaCO2-58-High

PaO2-50- Low

HCO3-33- High

What would the history and assessment of a patient with ABGs like this look like and what is the treatment?

What do I do when the pH is normal? Since that is how we classify acidosis or alkalosis. Is this where the compensated and uncompensated part comes in?

We haven't gotten to that chapter yet, but I've already been reading up on it bc I am trying to get a complete understanding of this.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Well, I copied/pasted this from an education website for nurses.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Compensated means compensated and yes the pH has returned to normal range. Yes there is also a partial compansation. I dont really know what you are meaning or trying to infer.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Well, I copied/pasted this from an education website for nurses.

It does an excellent job at explaining the basics, but it doesn't adequately explain compensation. Yes, being "fully compensated" means a return to a normal pH, but this is simplifying it.

For instance, imagine the following ABG values:

pH 7.32

CO2 59

HCO3 32

It is clear that there is a respiratory acidosis from the pH and CO2 values, however, the HCO3 is also elevated. This is the compensatory mechanism. However, the pH is still acidotic, indicating that it isn't fully compensated.

However, if we went solely by your copy/pasted example, it would be called "uncompensated", which is wrong.

eta: ABG values are typical of a 50-50 club COPDer.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Well, I am guessing it will be easier for her to learn the basics first, THEN she can go into the partial compensation issues. If someone had thrown every angle of compensation/partial into learning it I would have been confused. I first had to learn about compensation. Once I learned about that, then I learned about the partial compensation. But thanks for your additional input, Im sure she will appreciate it.

OP, I also listed a couple websites to help you learn. But dont try to learn everything at once or you will not understand it. First, memorize the values and how they affect pH and such. Its a confusing thing to learn.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

Guys! There is an ABGs analysis sheet on the weblinks that you merely need to print out and refer to when analyzing these things. All you need is to know is normal pH, CO2, HCO3 values, the ROME mnemonic and the partially compensated tables chart and you are good to go. These things don't even fill up a page.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Home Health.

Where is the weblinks you are referring to?

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

post #45 on https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/pathophysiology-p-microbiology-145201.html - pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources in the nursing student assistance forum

i already listed this on post #2 of this thread.

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Thanks to everybody that replied to my question!!! :D

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