Anaesthesia | General ICU Care | ABG interpretation: respiratory

ABG interpretation: respiratory
Session overview
Description
This session gives a brief overview of normal physiological mechanisms regulating body pH, followed by case studies with a particular focus on abnormalities pertaining to the respiratory system.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• describe the physiology of normal acid-base balance
• describe normal arterial blood gas parameters
• interpret arterial blood gases
• identify respiratory causes of arterial blood gas abnormalities
• explain the importance of arterial blood gas abnormalities for management

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment, despite changes in the external environment. Regulation of acid-base balance in the body is crucial for human physiology, including protein structure, enzyme function, and ion distribution. There are three main physiological mechanisms which maintain acid-base homeostasis:

• buffers
• the respiratory system
• the renal system

These mechanisms are covered in more detail in the later sessions:

• Acid base balance and buffers (001-0614)
• Renal regulation of body fluid pH (001-0658)

However, this session will briefly review them before looking at the respiratory system in more detail.