Understanding arterial blood gases
Important lab values
- pH
- Normal/neutral = -
- Below = acidic
- Above = alkaline
-
Partial pressure of oxygen ()
- Normal = - mmHg
- Below = hypoxemia
- Above = hyperoxemia (typically supplemental oxygen administration)
-
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide () - related to respiratory conditions
- Normal = - mmHg
- Below = alkaline
- Above = acidic
-
Bicarbonate () - related to metabolic conditions
- Normal = - mEq/L
- Below = acidic
- Above = alkaline
Acid-base diseases
-
Respiratory acidosis
- Related diagnosis: COPD, pneumonia, atelectasis, anesthesia, drug overdose
- Define: the lung does not efficiently remove carbon dioxide from the system, causing a buildup of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream
- Lab values:
- pH below
- above
- Symptoms: hypoventilation, hypoxia, rapid-shallow breaths, decreased blood pressure, dyspnea, hyperkalemia, muscle weakness
-
Respiratory alkalosis
- Related diagnosis: anxiety attacks, pulmonary embolism, mechanical ventilation
- Define: the lung excessively removes carbon dioxide from the system, leading to decreased amounts of carbon dioxide in bloodstream
- Lab values:
- pH above
- below
- Symptoms: hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypokalemia, numbness/tingling of extremities, deep-rapid breathing, seizures, nausea, vomiting, light headedness, lethargy, confusion
-
Metabolic acidosis
- Related diagnosis: diabetic ketoacidosis, severe diarrhea, renal failure, sepsis (systemic shock)
- Define: accumulation of metabolic acids or excessive loss of bicarbonate, lowering blood pH
- Lab values:
- pH below
- below
- Symptoms: headache, decreased blood pressure, hyperkalemia, muscle twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, changes in consciousness, Kussmaul respirations (compensatory hyperventilation)
-
Metabolic alkalosis
- Related diagnosis: severe vomiting, excessive diuretic use, excessive antacid use, excessive gastrointestinal suctioning
- Define: the body has removed too much acid or retained too much bicarbonate, leading to an alkaline shift in the bloodstream
- Lab values:
- pH above
- above
- Symptoms: restlessness, tachycardia, compensatory hypoventilation, confusion, nausea, vomiting, tremors, cramps
The four disorders can present with overlapping symptoms, so the exam expects you to distinguish them by management focus as well as by lab values:
| Disorder | Management focus |
|---|---|
| Respiratory acidosis | Improve ventilation - bronchodilators, positioning, airway clearance, mechanical ventilation if severe |
| Respiratory alkalosis | Treat the cause of hyperventilation - anxiety management, breathing retraining, treat the underlying illness |
| Metabolic acidosis | Treat the underlying cause (e.g., insulin for diabetic ketoacidosis, treat sepsis) and replace bicarbonate if severe |
| Metabolic alkalosis | Correct the cause - replace fluid and electrolytes, stop contributing medications (e.g., diuretics, antacids) |
Treatment of arterial blood gas disorders
Compensation is the body’s way of adjusting one system (respiratory or metabolic) to offset a disturbance in the other.
- If the lungs are the problem, the kidneys try to help.
- If the kidneys are the problem, the lungs try to help.
There are three types of compensation:
| Type | pH status | Compensation present? |
|---|---|---|
| Uncompensated | Abnormal | No compensation |
| Partially compensated | Abnormal | Compensation is occurring |
| Fully compensated | Normal (-) | Compensation has corrected the pH |
To interpret an ABG, work through the values in this order:
- Classify the pH as acidotic (below ) or alkalotic (above ).
- Compare and to the direction of the pH shift - whichever one explains the pH shift names the primary disorder - a PaCO2 moving opposite to the pH (high with acidosis, low with alkalosis) points to a respiratory cause, while an HCO3 moving in the same direction as the pH points to a metabolic cause ( points to a respiratory cause, points to a metabolic cause).
- Check the opposing value: if it’s still in the normal range, the disorder is uncompensated; if it has shifted to help but the pH still hasn’t normalized, it’s partially compensated; if the pH has returned to the normal range, it’s fully compensated.
Partially compensated arterial blood gases
Definition:
- pH is still outside the normal range, so the imbalance is not fully corrected.
- The opposing system has begun to respond, but not enough to normalize pH.
Example: partially compensated respiratory acidosis
Value Result Interpretation pH Acidotic mmHg High (respiratory acidosis) mEq/L High (kidneys compensating) Answer: Respiratory acidosis with partial metabolic compensation.
Fully compensated arterial blood gases
Definition:
- The pH is back within normal range (-) due to effective compensation.
- One component remains abnormal, indicating that a primary disorder still exists, but the body has corrected the pH.
Example: fully compensated metabolic acidosis
Value Result Interpretation pH Normal (low end) mmHg Low (lungs compensating) mEq/L Low (metabolic acidosis) Answer: Fully compensated metabolic acidosis.

