Acid/Base

Delta/Delta

  • delta AG/delta HCO3 = (AG-12)/(24-HCO3)  values of 1-2 suggest pure gap acidosis

Respiratory acidosis

  • Chronic – 0.03 pH per 10 pCO2 (decreases)
  • Acute – 0.08 pH per 10 pCO2
  • Ventilation in chronic respiratory acidosis – Aim for baseline pCO2 to avoid renal wasting of bicarb to compensate for mechanically obtained eucapnea – avoids acidosis due to lost compensation when weaning from the vent

Gap Acidosis