Acute & emergency · UKMLA & AKT
Respiratory acidosis
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise respiratory acidosis — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.
Key high-yield points
- Step 1 - pH: <7.35 = acidosis; >7.45 = alkalosis
- Step 2 - PaCO2: raised (>6.0 kPa) with acidosis = respiratory acidosis; low PaCO2 with acidosis = respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis
- Step 3 - HCO3-: low (<22 mmol/L) = metabolic acidosis; raised (>26 mmol/L) = metabolic alkalosis or renal compensation
- Step 4 - PaO2: <10.7 kPa = hypoxia; if PaCO2 also raised = type 2 respiratory failure
- Step 5 - Compensation: pH moving toward normal despite abnormal primary value = partial compensation
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