Alright. Starting in this video, we are going to start going over some ABG interpretation
problems. We're going to go through a lot of problems and try to hit all the different
variations you may get. So let's start with problem number 1. And again, you can download
these problems from our website, leveluprn.com, and kind of follow along with me. There is
also an answer key on the website. So if you want to later work through these problems
independently and check your answers, you can do that.
So problem number one, pH is 7.29, PaCO₂ is 47, HCO₃ is 24. So step one is figuring
out if we have acidosis or alkalosis. So let's look at the pH for that. So pH should be between
7.35 and 7.45. But it is out of range on the low side, which means we have acidosis. So
that's step one, all done, acidosis. Now, second step, we need to figure out who's to
blame for that acidosis. Is it the respiratory system, or is it the metabolic system? Right?
So the respiratory system, we're going to be looking at PaCO₂; metabolic system, we're
going to be looking at HCO₃. So when we look at PaCO₂, we see we have 47. The normal
range for PaCO₂ is between 35 and 45. If we are too high out of that range on the high
side, then we have acidosis. So in this case, we know that the respiratory system is to
blame for the acidosis, okay? So we have respiratory acidosis. Now we need to see if the metabolic
system is trying to compensate for that. Are they trying to fix the problem? So our normal
HCO₃ level should be between 22 and 26. And here we have 24, so it's totally within
normal range. So the metabolic system is not doing anything to fix the situation. We have
just kind of normal HCO₃ level. So in this case, we have uncompensated respiratory acidosis.
So the respiratory system is causing the acidosis, and the metabolic system isn't doing anything
to fix the situation, so uncompensated respiratory acidosis. Hopefully, you can read that okay.
Alright. Let's do another problem. Here, with problem two, we have a pH of 7.31. Again,
this is out of range on the low side, which means again we have acidosis. So that's step
one. Now we're going to figure out, is it the respiratory system to blame, or is it
the metabolic system to blame? We look at the PaCO₂ to evaluate whether the respiratory
system is to blame. PaCO₂ should be between 35 and 45. When it is high, when it is out
of range on the high side, we have acidosis. So we know again in this situation that we
have respiratory acidosis. Now let's look and see if the metabolic system is trying
to fix the situation. HCO₃ should be between 22 and 26. In this case, it's 30, so it's
on the basic side. So it is trying to compensate for this acidosis. Respiratory system is acting
up, causing this acidosis. The metabolic system is basic, so it's trying to neutralize the
situation. But does it fully compensate for the situation? No, because here you can see
the pH is 7.31. It's not within normal range. So in this case, we have partially compensated
respiratory acidosis. Metabolic system is trying to compensate but hasn't fully compensated
so, again, partially compensated respiratory acidosis. okay! So that's problem two. And
we will pick it up with more problem sets. Okay, problem three. We have a pH of 7.35,
PaCO₂ of 48, and HCO₃ of 29. So let's first look at the pH, see if we have acidosis
or alkalosis. You'll notice that 7.35 is within the normal range for pH, but it is on the
acidic side. So we have a normal pH, but we'll want to note that it is on the acidic side,
okay? So let's see what's going on with the respiratory system. PaCO₂ is 48, which is
out of range, on the acidic side. So we have some respiratory acidosis going on. Let's
see what the metabolic system is doing about the situation. So the metabolic system is
HCO₃, it should be between 22 and 26, and it is high, right? It's 29, which is out of
range on the basic side. So the metabolic system is fixing the situation, right? We
have respiratory acidosis, the metabolic system is making it more basic, and it is fully compensating
for this because our pH is within normal range. So again, respiratory system is acting up,
causing respiratory acidosis. Metabolic system saves the day by becoming more basic, and
it basically fixes the situation because we have a pH that's within the normal range,
7.35 to 7.45. So in this case, we have fully compensated respiratory acidosis. Alright.
That's problem three. Let's do problem four. pH is 7.49. PaCO₂
is 33. HCO₃ is 24. So let's first determine do we have acidosis or alkalosis? It's always
our first step. So in this case, our pH should be between 7.35 and 7.45. It is out of range
on the high side, which means we have alkalosis. Now let's see who is to blame for the alkalosis,
right? So our pH is alkalosis, which is like another word for being basic. So let's see
if the respiratory system is to blame or the metabolic system is to blame. PaCO₂, again,
represents the respiratory system, should be between 35 and 45. It is 33, so it is out
of range on the low side, which means we have alkalosis and we have respiratory alkalosis.
So right off the bat, we know that the respiratory system is to blame for the alkalosis. Now
we need to check and see if the metabolic system is trying to compensate at all. If
it is trying to compensate, then we'll see that it is acidic, okay? HCO₃ should be
between 22 and 26. Our value is 24, so it's within normal range. So it's not basic; it's
not trying to compensate. This is normal. So for this problem, we have uncompensated
respiratory alkalosis, okay? Respiratory system is acting up, causing the alkalosis, and the
metabolic system is not saving the day. They're not even trying because we have a normal HCO₃
level. So in this case, we have uncompensated respiratory alkalosis. Alright. That's problem
four. We'll pick it up with more next!