Table 1

Correlating arterial blood gas results with clinical features

Metabolic imbalances
Metabolic acidosis
pH
PaCO2
HCO3

Metabolic alkalosis

N (uncompensated) N (uncompensated)
(compensated)
(compensated)

Base

excess
Clinical Kussmaul-type
features breathing (deeper,
faster respiration),
shock, coma

Common With raised anion

causes
gap: diabetic
ketoacidosis, lactic
acidosis, poisons
(e.g. ethylene
glycol), drug
overdoses
(paracetamol,
aspirin, isoniazid,
alcohol)
With normal anion
gap: diarrhoea,
secretory adenomas,
ammonium chloride
poisoning, interstitial
nephritis, renal
tubular acidosis,
acetazolamide
administration

Paraesthesia, tetany,
weakness

Respiratory imbalances
Respiratory acidosis

Respiratory
alkalosis

N (uncompensated)
(compensated)

N (uncompensated)
(compensated)

N/

Acute:
hyperventilation,
paraesthesia, lightheadedness
Chronic:
hyperventilation,
latent tetany
Vomiting, prolonged Hypoventilation
Hyperventilation
therapy with
chronic lung disease anxiety, pain,
potassium-wasting
with CO2retention,
febrile illness,
diuretics or steroids, e.g. chronic
hypoxia,
Cushing's disease,
obstructive
pulmonary
ingestion/overdose of pulmonary disease, embolism,
sodium bicarbonate respiratory depression pregnancy, sepsis
(e.g. antacids)
from drugs (e.g.
opioids, sedatives),
severe asthma,
pulmonary oedema

N = within normal range = increased = decreased

Acute: air hunger,

disorientation
Chronic:
hypoventilation,
hypoxia, cyanosis

N/