ABG INTERPRETATION
STEP 1: PH determination
-

[H+] [HCO3 ]
Valid ABG = ---------------------- =24

P CO2

Normal 7.35 – 7.45
(H+) = 80 – LAST 2 DIGITS OF Ph (eg:7.23)
STEP 2:
PH
(7.34-7.45)

ACIDOSIS

ALKALOSIS

RESPIRATORY

METABOLOC

CO2

HCO3-

ACUTE

RESPIRATORY

METABOLIC

CHRONIC

Dr Ranjith Kumar/ ABG notes

Page 1
To determine respiratory acidosis whether is acute or chronic:
ΔH
ΔPCO2
<0.3 Chronic Respiratory acidosis
>0.8 Acute Respiratory acidosis
0.3 – 0.8 Acute on Chronic
ΔH = Normal H+ (40) subtracted by Actual patient H+

ΔPco2 = (Patient PCo2 – 40)

Step 3: Compensation
Metabolic compensation for respiratory disorder
Acidosis

Alkalosis

1

2
ACUTE

Acidosis

Alkalosis

3.5

4
CHRONIC

Co2 we will take as 10 in every step
Respiratory acidosis
Acute

[HCO3-] increases by 1 for each 10-mm Hg increase in PCO2

Chronic

[HCO3-] increases by 3.5 for each 10-mm Hg increase in PCO2

Respiratory alkalosis
Acute

[HCO3-] falls by 2 for each 10-mm Hg decrease in PCO2

Chronic

[HCO -

Dr Ranjith Kumar/ ABG notes

3 ] falls by 4 for each 10-mm Hg decrease in PCO2

Page 2
Respiratory compensation for metabolic disorder
Metabolic acidosis PCO2 = 1.5 × [HCO3-] + 8 ± 2
Metabolic alkalosis PCO increases by 7 mm Hg for each 10 mEq/L increase in serum HCO 2
3

Met.Acidosis

Normal

Positive

Anion gap

Anion gap

10-12

MUDPILES

Diarrhoea
RTA
urinary tract diversion
Ammoniam chloride intake
posthypocapnic

Mixed disorder
-

Corrected HCO3 = Measured HCO3 + Anion gap - 12
HCO3-

Dr Ranjith Kumar/ ABG notes

Page 3

Abg

  • 1.
    ABG INTERPRETATION STEP 1:PH determination - [H+] [HCO3 ] Valid ABG = ---------------------- =24 P CO2 Normal 7.35 – 7.45 (H+) = 80 – LAST 2 DIGITS OF Ph (eg:7.23) STEP 2: PH (7.34-7.45) ACIDOSIS ALKALOSIS RESPIRATORY METABOLOC CO2 HCO3- ACUTE RESPIRATORY METABOLIC CHRONIC Dr Ranjith Kumar/ ABG notes Page 1
  • 2.
    To determine respiratoryacidosis whether is acute or chronic: ΔH ΔPCO2 <0.3 Chronic Respiratory acidosis >0.8 Acute Respiratory acidosis 0.3 – 0.8 Acute on Chronic ΔH = Normal H+ (40) subtracted by Actual patient H+ ΔPco2 = (Patient PCo2 – 40) Step 3: Compensation Metabolic compensation for respiratory disorder Acidosis Alkalosis 1 2 ACUTE Acidosis Alkalosis 3.5 4 CHRONIC Co2 we will take as 10 in every step Respiratory acidosis Acute [HCO3-] increases by 1 for each 10-mm Hg increase in PCO2 Chronic [HCO3-] increases by 3.5 for each 10-mm Hg increase in PCO2 Respiratory alkalosis Acute [HCO3-] falls by 2 for each 10-mm Hg decrease in PCO2 Chronic [HCO - Dr Ranjith Kumar/ ABG notes 3 ] falls by 4 for each 10-mm Hg decrease in PCO2 Page 2
  • 3.
    Respiratory compensation formetabolic disorder Metabolic acidosis PCO2 = 1.5 × [HCO3-] + 8 ± 2 Metabolic alkalosis PCO increases by 7 mm Hg for each 10 mEq/L increase in serum HCO 2 3 Met.Acidosis Normal Positive Anion gap Anion gap 10-12 MUDPILES Diarrhoea RTA urinary tract diversion Ammoniam chloride intake posthypocapnic Mixed disorder - Corrected HCO3 = Measured HCO3 + Anion gap - 12 HCO3- Dr Ranjith Kumar/ ABG notes Page 3