ACID BASE BALANCE
1. Rule of B’s
a. If the pH and the Bicarb are Both in the same direction, then it
is metabolic
2. Signs and Symptoms
a. As the pH goes, so goes my patient, except for potassium
i. as pH goes up, systems gets irritable
ii. as pH goes down, systems shut down
1. UP pH (Alkalosis)
a. HTN
b. Tachycardia
c. Tachypnea
d. Seizures
e. Irritability
f. Spastic
g. Diarrhea
h. Borborygme
i. Hyperreflexia, (3,4)
j. Hypokalemia
2. DOWN pH (Acidosis)
a. Hypotension
b. Bradycardia
c. Constipation
d. Absent bowel sounds
e. Flaccid
f. Bradypnea
g. Hyperkalemia
h. Lethargy
i. Obtunded (one step down from lethargy)
j. Paralytic ileus
k. Coma
l. Respiratory arrest
b. MacKussmaul
i. The only acid base to cause Kussmaul respirations is
Metabolic Acidosis
1. Causes
a. First ask yourself, “Is it lung?” If yes, then it’s respiratory. Then
ask yourself: “Are they overventilating or underventilating. If
overventilating, pick alkalosis. If underventilating, pick acidosis.
b. If it is not lung, then it is metabolic. If the patient has prolonged
gastric vomiting or suction, pick alkalosis. For everything else
that
, isn’t lung, pick metabolic acidosis. When you don’t know what to
pick, choose metabolic acidosis.
VENTILATORS
1. High pressure alarms are triggered by increased resistance to air flow.
2. High pressure alarms are triggered by resistance to airflow and can be
caused by obstructions of 3 types: kinked tube, (unkink) action, water
in tube (empty) action, mucus in airway (turn, cough and deep
breathe) action. Lastly suction
3. Low pressure alarms are triggered by decrease resistance to airflow and
can be caused by disconnections of the tubing (reconnect it) or oxygen
sensor tube (reconnect it UNLESS tube is on the floor- bag them and
call RT if this happens) (black coated wirey tubing that piggy backs the
tubing, measure FiO2)
4. Respiratory alkalosis means the ventilator settings may be too high.
5. Respiratory acidosis means the ventilator settings may be too low.
6. What does “wean” mean? Gradually decrease with the goal of getting
off altogether
,Mark Klimek Audio Tape 2
ALCOHOLISM/ ABUSE
1. #1 Psychological problem is denial. (1 patient)
a. Denial is the refusal to accept the reality of their problem.
b. Treating denial: confront it by pointing out to the person the
difference between what they say and what they do. In
contrast, support the denial of loss and grief.
i. Abuse vs. Loss
ii. Denial and Loss and Greif Stages; DABDA
1. Denial- healthy normal 1st action therefore you support
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance
c. When dealing with a psychodynamic problem between staff use the
word I not the word you. ex. I seem to be frustrating you vs. Why
do you not like me.
2. #2 Psychological problem is Dependency/ Codependency (2 patients)
a. Dependency: When the abuser gets the Significant Other to do things
for them or make decisions for them
b. Codependency: When the Significant Other derives positive
self- esteem from doing things for or making decisions for the
abuser
c. When treating dependency/codependency: Set limits and enforce
them. Agree in advance on what requests are allowed, then enforce
the agreement.
3. Manipulation: (1 patient) when the abuser gets the significant other to do
things for him/her that are not in the best interest of the significant
other. The nature of the act is harmful or dangerous to the significant
other.
a. Treating manipulation: set limits and enforce.
i. Easier to treat
4. Alcoholism
a. Wernicke’s (Korsakoff’s) Syndrome: psychosis induced by Vitamin
B1 (thiamine) deficiency
b. Primary symptoms of Wernicke’s (Korsakoff’s) Syndrome:
Impaired Vision, amnesia (memory loss) with confabulation
(make up stuff)
c. Characteristics of Wernicke’s (Korsakoff’s) Syndrome
i. Preventable (take vitamin)
ii. Arrestable (Stop Drinking and take vitamin)
iii. Irreversible (kills brain cells/ causes brain damage)
iv. Wernicke’s (Korsakoff’s) Syndrome these patients
may sometimes black out. They need Re-directing.
v.
, d. Disulfaram/Naltrexone (Antabuse/Revia) this medication makes
the patient feel sick if drink, its aka Aversion Therapy. Patient will
have a strong hatred for alcohol
e. Onset and duration of effectiveness of Disulfaram (Antabuse/Revia):
2 weeks
f. Patient teaching with Disulfaram (Antabuse/ Revia): Avoid all forms
of alcohol to avoid nausea, vomiting, and death.
g. What are examples of products that contain alcohol? Mouthwash,
cologne, perfume, aftershave, all elixirs- most OTC liquid
medicines, insect repellant, vanilla extract (un-cooked icings),
hand sanitizer, vinaigrettes dressing, (the patient can have the
Red wine vinaigrette dressing)
h. Every alcoholic goes through alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Only
a minority get Delirium Tremens. (Delirium Tremens can Kill
you)
i. Every abused drug is either upper or downer
i. Uppers- caffeine, cocaine, PCP/LSD,
methamphetamines (Treats ADHD), Adderall, Bath
Salts….
1. Signs and symptoms
a. Euphoria
b. Tachycardia
c. Restlessness
d. Irritability
e. Increased bowels
f. Hyperreflexia
g. Spastic
h. Seizure – have suction machine at the bedside
ii. Downers- everything but uppers
1. Signs and symptoms
a. Drowsiness
b. Lethargy
c. Respiratory arrest
j. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome is not life threatening.
Delirium Tremens can kill you.
k. Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome are not a danger to
themselves or others. Patients with Delirium Tremens are
dangerous to self and others.
**OVERDOSE = TOO MUCH WITHDRAWL = TOO LITTLE**
l. Upper Overdose looks like downer withdrawal
i. i.e. risk for seizure, need suctioning
m. Downer OD looks like Upper
withdrawal
i. i.e. respiratory arrest/ depression
n. DRUG ABUSE IN NEWBORN: Always assume intoxication
not withdrawal at birth
i. right after birth baby is intoxicated
ii. 24 hours after birth, baby is in withdrawal