Acid base problems


Identifying the Primary Disorder

There are four primary abnormalities of acid-base balance:

  • Metabolic acidosis

  • Metabolic alkalosis

  • Respiratory acidosis

  • Respiratory alkalosis

These can be differentiated on the basis of changes in pH, serum [HCO3-] and pCO2.

For each abnormality click on the change you would expect to see:

  pH serum [HCO3-] pCO2
Metabolic acidosis Increased Reduced Increased Reduced Increased Reduced
Metabolic alkalosis Increased Reduced Increased Reduced Increased Reduced
Respiratory acidosis Increased Reduced Increased Reduced Increased Reduced
Respiratory alkalosis Increased Reduced Increased Reduced Increased Reduced


Solution