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Module title = Tutorial: Blood Gases
Lesson title = Abnormal Compensation
This is lesson 6 of 9 in this module
Please see lesson #4 for "Compensatory Processes" for the podcast on this lesson.
Ok. So you have now calculated the compensation ratio for your patient.
Now what? What if the value is greater than expected? What if it is lower than expected?
Lower than expected #1
remember that it can take time to compensate. Therefore, if the amount of compensation is less than expected, this might represent an acute process that has not had time yet to compensate.
this is especially true for a primary respiratory problem because metabolic compensation can take
a few days
for the kidneys to adjust the HCO
3
-
levels.
Lower than expected #2
sometimes, a second process is happening or maybe the patient
can't
compensate
as an example, someone with very poor kidney function might not be able to fully compensate for a primary respiratory problem
as a second example, someone with a metabolic acidosis might not appropriately hyperventilate if they received drugs that depress the respiratory center
Higher than expected
the only reason to have more compensation than expected is the presence of a second primary process, also called a
mixed acid base disturbance
In summary, these are the 3 reasons why it is important to identify the compensation ratio and determine if it is appropriate or not. Sometimes the primary acid base disturbance grabs all of our attention and we might miss the presence of a second (or sometimes even third). When you are learning about acid base disorders, mixed acid base disturbances can be confusing, so I am trying to highlight them frequently to help you plant some seeds about how to identify them.
Lesson 6 of 9
That was the last lesson!