Question regarding a graph ...

[shigella123]

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I attached my version of the graph from the question.

The question is asking about the acid base disturbance and about the diagnosis. It says that A is the baseline parameter ( I don't get what that means) and B is the pts condition at arrival into the ER. On the graph, if you are looking at point B, doesn't that point indicates that both Bicarb/PaCO2 decreasing or is it only one that's decreasing? How can you tell if one is increasing than the other at each point?

ahh.. I'm so confused. I don't even make sense to myself any more. I'm going to stop doing the questions for tonight.

 

[Kbkilla]

First look at pH (shifting to the left = decrease, so you have acidosis)

Then Look at what happens to PCO2 and HCO3 (both are at lower points so both are decreased)

HCO3 drops = dec in pH (correlates with above finding, so its a metabolic acidosis)
PCO2 drops = inc in pH (compensation, since the pH doesn't actually inc when looking at point B on the graph)

Answer should be something causing met acidosis. Hope that helps.

 

[shigella123]

First look at pH (shifting to the left = decrease, so you have acidosis)

Then Look at what happens to PCO2 and HCO3 (both are at lower points so both are decreased)

HCO3 drops = dec in pH (correlates with above finding, so its a metabolic acidosis)
PCO2 drops = inc in pH (compensation, since the pH doesn't actually inc when looking at point B on the graph)

Answer should be something causing met acidosis. Hope that helps.

Thanks it makes sense now... It looks so simple now. I had been studying for 16hrs so I guess my brain stopped cooperating with me.