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ABGs Made Easy Copyright BN

This document outlines a 5-step process for answering arterial blood gas (ABG) questions: 1. Write out the pH, HCO3, and PaCO2 values. 2. Indicate if the values are acidic or basic by drawing arrows. 3. Match any abnormal arrows. 4. Identify if it is a respiratory or metabolic imbalance based on the abnormal value. 5. Determine if it is uncompensated, partially compensated, or fully compensated. The example ABG values given indicate an uncompensated respiratory acidosis.

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861 views2 pages

ABGs Made Easy Copyright BN

This document outlines a 5-step process for answering arterial blood gas (ABG) questions: 1. Write out the pH, HCO3, and PaCO2 values. 2. Indicate if the values are acidic or basic by drawing arrows. 3. Match any abnormal arrows. 4. Identify if it is a respiratory or metabolic imbalance based on the abnormal value. 5. Determine if it is uncompensated, partially compensated, or fully compensated. The example ABG values given indicate an uncompensated respiratory acidosis.

Uploaded by

enfaraujo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Main Value Levels

Uncompensated, Partially or Fully Compensated?

Other Values

STEPS TO ANSWER AN ABG QUESTION MADE SIMPLE


Example: A client comes in with the following ABG lab values: pH of 7.31, HCO3: 27, PaCO2 of 65. What
imbalance is the client currently in?

Step 1: Write out the values across the paper like below:

PH: 7.31 HCO3: 27 PaCO2: 65

Step 2: Write arrows to indicate if they are acidic or basic. Remember HCO3 is bicarbonate (basic) and
PACO2 is carbon dioixide (acidic).

PH: 7.31 (acidic) HCO3: 27 NORMAL PaCO2: 65 (acidic)

Step 3: Match the abnormal arrows. If all three are abnormal, match the pH arrow to the HCO3/PaCO2
arrow.

PH: 7.31 (acidic) HCO3: 27 NORMAL PaCO2: 65 (acidic)

Step 4: If PaCo2 then RESPIRATORY, if HCO3 then METABOLIC.


The answer to this question is Respiratory Acidosis.

Step 5: Finally put whether it is uncompensated, partially or fully compensated (see criteria above):

The answer then would be Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis.

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