Which of the following accurately describes compensation for ...

[colton]

Which of the following accurately describes compensation for acid-base disorders?
 
  a. Kidneys take hours to days to compensate for respiratory disorders.
  b. Lungs take hours to days to compensate for metabolic disorders.
  c. Renal compensation is always complete.
  d. Respiratory compensation is always com-plete.

Question 2

A patient has a bicarbonate concentration of 36 mEq and a PCO2 of 60 mm Hg. What is the ap-proximate pH?
 
  a. 7.2
  b. 7.3
  c. 7.4
  d. 7.5

[dominiqueenicolee]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The lungs normally compensate quickly for metabolic acid-base defects because ventilation can change the PaCO2 within seconds. The kidneys require more time to retain or excrete significant amounts of HCO3, and thus compensate for respiratory defects at a much slower pace.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The kidneys compensate by retaining HCO3, returning the plasma HCO3/dissolved CO2 ratio to almost 20:1. The conversion of PCO2 to mEq is done by multiplying by 0.03.
Thus 60  0.03 = 1.8. 36 to 1.8 is equal to a 20 to 1 ratio, thus the pH should be 7.40.

[colton]

Thank you

[dominiqueenicolee]

No problemo