Compensation for metabolic acidosis occurs through which of the ...

[sheilaspns]

Compensation for metabolic acidosis occurs through which of the following?
 
  a. Increase in blood CO2 levels
  b. Decrease in blood CO2 levels
  c. Decrease in blood HCO3 levels
  d. Increase in blood HCO3 levels

Question 2

A patient with a measured plasma HCO3 concentration of 24 mmol/L has an episode of acute hypoventilation, with the PCO2 rising from 40 to 70 mm Hg. What do you predict will happen acutely to the plasma HCO3 concentration?
 
  a. HCO3 will remain unchanged.
  b. HCO3 will rise to approximately 27 to 28 mmol/L.
  c. HCO3 will fall to approximately 20 to 21 mmol/L.
  d. HCO3 will rise to approximately 54 to 55 mmol/L.

[jordangronback]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
If a nonrespiratory (metabolic) process lowers or raises HCO3, the lungs compensate by hyper-ventilating (eliminating CO2) or hypoventilating (retaining CO2), restoring the pH to near normal.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
In general, when the nonbicarbonate buffer concentration is normal and the PCO2 rise is acute, the hydration reaction raises the plasma HCO3 approximately 1 mEq/L for every 10 mm Hg increase in PCO2 higher than 40 mm Hg.

[sheilaspns]

Excellent

[scikid]

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