ABG Basics
Blood Gas Norms
Simple Interpretation
Compensated ABGs
Putting It Together
100

This is the preferred blood vessel for ABG blood to be drawn from.

What is artery

100

This is the normal range for a PaO2.

What is 95-105

100
pH=7.23 pCO2=35 HCO3=14
What is Metabolic acidosis
100
pH=7.36 pCO2=55 HCO3=34
What is compensated respiratory acidosis?
100

10 year old boy who has a history of type 1 diabetes who is brought to the ED for vomiting and abdominal pain. He is taking fast, deep breaths. pH 7.05, pCO2 19, pO2 145, HCO3 6. Interpret the ABG and decide the treatment. 

Metabolic Acidosis due to diabetic ketoacidosis. Treatment with insulin. 

200
This is the respiratory component of a blood gas.
What is CO2
200
This is the pH range that is considered normal?
What is 7.35-7.45
200
pH=7.10 pCO2=63 HCO3=25
What is Respiratory acidosis?
200
pH=7.43 pCO2=30 HCO3=20
What is compensated respiratory alkalosis
200

A 3 year old female is admitted for increasing shortness of breath. She is noted to have a creatinine of 3.1. pH=7.35 PaCO2=30 HCO3=15 PaO2=82 Interpret the ABG and decide the treatment.

What is metabolic acidosis? Patient is going into renal failure and will probably require dialysis 

300
This is the metabolic component of the blood gas
What is bicarbonate (HCO3)
300
This is considered the normal range for CO2
What is 35-45
300
pH=7.54 pCO2=44 HCO3=35
What is Metabolic Alkalosis?
300
pH=7.21 pCO2=29 HCO3=14
What is partially compensated metabolic acidosis
300

A 7 year old female is admitted for increasing shortness of breath. She has a history of asthma. pH=7.28 PaCO2=74 HCO3=26 PaO2=65 Interpret the ABG and decide the treatment.

What is Respiratory acidosis. Help her blow off CO2: neb tx, bipap, steroids

400
This organ can compensate for acidosis/alkalosis by adjusting CO2.
What are the lungs?
400
This is considered a normal range for bicarbonate levels.
What is 22-26
400
pH=7.51 pCO2=28 HCO3=25
What is Respiratory Alkalosis?
400
pH=7.12 pCO2=73 HCO3=28
What is partially compensated respiratory acidosis
400

A 16 year old boy is admitted with appendicitis. He is hyperventilating and states he feels dizzy. pH=7.50 PaCO2=31 HCO3=25 PaO2=125 Interpret the ABG and decide the treatment.

What is respiratory alkalosis? He is hyperventilating from pain--manage the pain and the ABG should improve

500
This organ can compensate for acidosis/alkalosis by adjusting the bicarbonate level, but takes days to work
What are the kidneys?
500
This is component of the blood gas that determines whether a patient is acidic or alkalotic.
What is pH?
500
pH=7.12 pCO2=58 HCO3=16
What is both Respiratory & Metabolic Acidosis
500
pH=7.38 pCO2=63 HCO3=28
What is fully compensated respiratory acidosis (probably COPD)
500

A 16 month old female is admitted for increasing secretions and work of breathing. She is RSV+ pH=7.40 PaCO2=54 HCO3=25 PaO2=65 Interpret the ABG and decide the treatment.

What is respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation. Patient is hypoxic and needs a small amount of O2

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