Determining pH status of a patient with ABG's A SelectSmart.com Flowchart by Kel To print this page, right mouse click, open "Print preview", "Print" or a similar option depending on your browser, then use the controls to size this page appropriately. Go to SelectSmart.com/flowchart/flowchart.php?id=1000353 for the original version of this flowchart. Find and create other free decision making tools at SelectSmart.com. Use our interactive selectors to find the best college, best career, right religion, most appropriate dog breed, best college major and more.

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This chart will help you determine a patients pH status with the data gathered from their ABG's.                     We'll start with just the pH. Is the pH...       ...below 7.35? OR...above 7.45?     YES YES   Then it's Acidotic. Now, we determine if your patient has respiratory or metabolic acidosis. Look at their pH, PaCO2, and HCO3-. Then it's Alkalotic. Now we determine if your patient has respiratory or metabolic acidosis. Look at their pH, PaCO2, and HCO3-.     Do they have a LOW pH and a HIGH CO2? (CO2 above 45) OR do they have a LOW pH and a LOW HCO3-? (HCO3- below 22) Do they have a HIGH pH and a LOW CO2? (CO2 under 35) OR do they have a HIGH pH and a HIGH HCO3-? (HCO3- above 26)   YES YES YES YES Respiratory Acidosis Metabolic Acidosis Respiratory Alkalosis. Metabolic Alkalosis   ...their CO2 is within 35-45 and their HCO3- is outside of 22-26, then they are UNCOMPENSATED. Now determine their degree of compensation. The options are... Compensated, Uncompensated, or Partially Compensated. Now determine their degree of compensation. If you established that your patient has either Respiratory Acidosis or Alkalosis, then is their HCO3- outside of 22-26? If yes, then they are PARTIALLY COMPENSATED. their HCO3- is within 22-26 and their CO2 is outside of 35-45, then they are UNCOMPENSATED. If their pH is outside of 7.35-7.45 AND... OR, if their pH is between 7.35-7.45 then they are COMPENSATED. OR, they could be PARTIALLY COMPENSATED... If you established that your patient has either Metabolic Acidosis or Alkalosis, then is their CO2 outside of 35-45? If yes then they are PARTIALLY COMPENSATED.