1. pH levels and Arterial Blood Gases

2. Blood pH Normal levels of pH are 0-14 Below 6- acidic Above 7-alkaline
Use pH paper to determine acidity or alkalinity
These pH levels are used for chemicals, body fluids, such as urine, gastric content

3. Acids
Substances that when dissolved in water will ionize into positively charged hydrogen ions and negatively charged ions of some other element.

4. Alkali (Bases)
Substances that when dissolved in water ionizes into negatively charged hydroxide ions and positively charged ions of metal

5. Neutralization
This is the result when an acid and a base are combined to form a salt and a water.
Example: heartburn: give antacids and neutralizes the acid into a salt and a water and the heartburn goes away.

6. Arterial Blood
Arterial Blood gas testing measures the dissolved O2 and CO2 and pH levels in the arterial blood.

7. Arterial Blood gases
The ABG measure the effectiveness of tissue perfusion and when imbalanced several health conditions can occur.

8. pH The pH reflects the hydrogen ions in the circulating blood.
This complex buffering system exists in the respiratory and cardiovascular mechanisms and keeps the systems in balance.

9. Respiratory
The lungs (respiratory) compensate for the imbalance within 2 to 3 hours.

10. Metabolic
The kidneys (metabolic) compensate for the imbalances within 2 to 3 days.

11. Health problems that will alter ABG results
Asthma
Pneumonia
Emphysema
Hypoxia
Sepsis (infection)
Shock
Anesthesia
Drug overdose (Aspirin toxicity)

12. Arterial Blood pH
This is a useful indicator to determine acid/base balance within the body.
Normal range is 7.35 to 7.45

13. Intracellular- fluid within the cell
Homeostasis
Intracellular- fluid within the cell
Extracellular-fluid outside the cell

14. Arterial blood gas (ABG)
Arterial samples provide information about the ability of the lungs to regulate acid/base balance through retention or release CO2. Effectiveness of the kidneys maintaining appropriate bicarbonate levels can also be gauged.

15. pH 7.35 to 7.45 CO2- 35-45 (respiratory) HCO3- 24-28 (metabolic)
Application of ABG
pH to 7.45
CO (respiratory)
HCO (metabolic)
O2 saturation- 80 to100

16. Look at pH first
pH:
Above alkaline
Below acid

17. respiratory
CO2 above 45-acid
Below 35 alkaline

18. metabolic
HCO3 above 28- alkaline
Below 24 acid

19. Example
24 year old female with drug overdose has following ABG results:
pH- 7.5
CO2-40
HCO3- 32
pH elevated, alkaline, HCO3 elevated and alkaline
Metabolic alkalosis