Hi. Why is respiratory acidosis different from respiratory compensation for...

[TexasTriathlete]

...metabolic alkalosis?

USMLERx can go f itself. Are there really questions asking you to make this distinction on the step?

Patient is vomiting --> metabolic alkalosis

High CO2 from respiratory compensation.

They ask what kind of disorder this is.

But the answer was "respiratory compensation", which I can live with. Except that I picked "metabolic alkalosis and respiratory acidosis" before I even read to the bottom of the choices.

I know this is not the best way to approach multiple choice questions, and I don't really care that I missed it because its just a question bank, but what is the difference here? I am not satisfied with their explanation. How are they making this distinction? Why am I studying today?

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[aashkab]

metabolic alkalosis plus resp acidosis would have a normal pH. met alkalosis with compensation still has a high pH

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Son of a bitch.

 

[PharmaTope]

Son of a bitch.

also need to consider if it is acute or chronic because the degree of change in the HCO3- and CO2 varies based upon that. acid base is a bitch

 

[greg1184]

I have never had to use a single acid/base compensation formula ever. Not on my practice questions; not on the real thing. Generally they are pretty straightforward.

 

[leviathan]

Remember you can have opposing acid-base disorders but you can also have acid-base disorders with compensation. An example of opposing disorders could be septic shock leading to ARDS, where you have metabolic acidosis from hypoperfusion coupled with a respiratory alkalosis from hyperventilation due to the ARDS.