Respiratory Acidosis Case Study

Words: 840
Pages: 4

Respiratory acidosis is an abnormally high PCO2 in systemic arterial blood—above 45 mmHg. Inadequate exhalation of CO2 causes the blood pH to drop. Any condition that decreases the movement of CO2 from the blood to the alveoli of the lungs to the atmosphere causes a buildup of CO2, H2CO3, and H+. Such conditions include emphysema, pulmonary edema, injury to the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata, airway obstruction, or disorders of the muscles involved in breathing. If the respiratory problem is not too severe, the kidneys can help raise the blood pH into the normal range by increasing excretion of H+ and reabsorption of HCO3− (renal compensation). For respiratory alkalosis, systemic arterial blood PCO2 falls below 35 mmHg. The cause of the drop in PCO2 and the resulting increase in pH is hyperventilation, which occurs in conditions that stimulate the dorsal respiratory group in the brain stem. Such conditions include oxygen deficiency due to high altitude or pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), or severe anxiety. Again, renal compensation may bring blood pH into the …show more content…
The increased excretions of H+, it also increase reabsorption of HCO3. If compensation is complete, pH will be within normal range but PcO2 will be high. While respiratory alkalosis compensatory mechanism is the renal. The decreased excretion of H+ decreased reabsorption of HCO3. If compensation is complete, pH will be within the normal range but PCO2 will be low. For metabolic acidosis compensatory mechanisms is the respiratory, which when the increases loss of CO2 it causes hyperventilation, and if compensation is complete the pH will be within normal range but HCO3 will be low. Moreover, for metabolic alkalosis, the compensatory mechanism is also respiratory but this time it is hypoventilation, which slows loss of CO2. If the compensation is complete, the pH will be within normal range but HCO3 it will be