Most cases of metabolic acid/base disturbances are associated with fluid and/or electrolyte imbalances and are more complicated to interpret and to understand the underlying pathophysiology than are acid/base disturbances of respiratory origin. On the following pages are exemplary results for different metabolic acid/base disturbances and an explanation of the pathophysiology involved.
A simple model of metabolic acidosis illustrating the characteristic feature of decreased HCO3 - can be conceived by imagining the consequences of injecting a significant amount of concentrated HC1 into an experimental subject. The injected acid would be immediately buffered by HCO3 - which would be converted into an equivalent amount of CO2 . The increased CO2 would be eliminated immediately by a brief increase in respiration so that an increase in PCO2 would not be detected. The essentially instanteous respiratory elimination of the increased dissolved CO2 is due to the rapid equilibration of the neutral, small molecule between blood and CSF. The consequent decrease in CSF pH is sensed by central chemoreceptors to stimulate respiration. Once the excess dissolved CO2 is eliminated and the PCO2 is normal, CSF pH and respiration rate return to normal. The net immediate effect is decreased pH with decreased HCO3 - and normal PCO2 .
The rapid elimination of excess dissolved CO2 does not represent respiratory compensation. Respiratory compensation develops as CSF HCO3 - equilibrates with blood HCO3 -. The half-time for this process is about 2 hours. As CSF HCO3 - decreases, so does CSF pH with consequent stimulation of respiration and decreased PCO2 . The decrease in PCO2 represents respiratory compensation to metabolic acidosis. Almost all cases of metabolic acid/base disturbances develop over a time period of several hours to days so that respiratory compensation is always complete to the extent possible.
Though Blood gas results completely reveal the nature of metabolic acid/base disturbances, the 6-7 panel chemistry results provide more revealing information.
F. Metabolic Acidosis from Diarrhea:
G. Metabolic Alkalosis from Vomiting:
Last Updated: March, 14, 2016