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1 Determine the arterial pH status
pH < 7.40 is acidemic, pH > 7.44 is alkalemic
But a normal pH does not rule out an acid-base disorder2 If the arterial pH is abnormal, determine whether the primary process is respiratory, metabolic, or both pH Pco2 Bicarbonate Respiratory acidosis Low High — Metabolic acidosis Low — Low Mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis Low High Low Respiratory alkalosis High Low — Metabolic alkalosis High — High Mixed respiratory and metabolic alkalosis High Low High 3 Calculate the anion gap Anion gap = sodium – (chloride + bicarbonate) If serum albumin is low, add 2.5 mmol/L to the anion gap for every 1 g the serum albumin is below normal An anion gap > 10 mmol/L is elevated 4 Check the degree of compensation (respiratory or metabolic) Pco2 and bicarbonate should move in the same direction Nominal normal levels: bicarbonate 25 mmol/L and Pco2 40 mm Hg In respiratory acidosis, for every 10-mm Hg increase in Pco2, bicarbonate should increase by 1 mmol/L in the first 48 hours and 4 mmol/L afterward In metabolic acidosis, for every 1-mmol/L decrease in bicarbonate, Pco2 should decrease by 1.3 mm Hg In respiratory alkalosis, for every 10-mm Hg decrease in Pco2, bicarbonate should decrease by 2 mmol/L in the first 48 hours and by 5 mmol/L afterward In metabolic alkalosis, for every 1-mmol/L increase in bicarbonate, Pco2 may increase by 0.6 mm Hg 5 If the patient has metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap, check whether the bicarbonate level has decreased as much as the anion gap has increased In metabolic acidosis, the anion gap should increase by the same amount that bicarbonate decreases; a difference in these two changes is called a delta gap Pco2 = partial pressure of carbon dioxide
Based on information in reference 1