Acid/Base compensation is Kaplan is weird

[Kobebucsfan]

In the Kaplan book, they have all these ratios that we have to calculate to see if they r compensated. I doubt Step1 requires us to do all that math, but if its in the book then its fair game ??

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[Jabbed]

Winter's Formula is probably the highest yield one.

 

[tasar1898]

I guess that if you know the mechanisms of each compensation you don't need the formula since you can intuitively ''feel'' if the values are where they should be

 

[doctorknownothing]

yeah i sat through that kaplan lecture live... if you have the time doesn't hurt to know the low yield ration calculations. And yes if it happens to a human its fair game, hence the random struck by lightning question in Uworld haha

 

[DrPicard]

The ratios aren't hard it all, they probably seem that way because its something new to you. Just write all four of them down somewhere to give yourself an easier visual to retain.

 

[Mad Jack]

So freakin' weird. I thought you could just like, look at an ABG and tell. Is there more depth to it than that?

 

[DrPicard]

Afraid so, though I'm not sure if its tested on the USMLE. These ratios essentially help you pick up combined disturbances e.g. metabolic acidosis and resp alkalosis that are both pathologic in nature, as opposed to the latter occurring as a compensatory measure.