Metabolic Acidosis

Signs and symptoms of Metabolic Acidosis

#1. Kussumaul breathing, deep and rapid breathing more than 25 per min, and #2. Confused and Weak, and #3. Decreased blood pressure, and #4. Cardiac changes, and #5. Nausea and vomiting.

Causes of Metabolic Acidosis

#1. Too much acid production and reduced bicarb such as DKA, and #2. Reduced acid excretion such as renal failure, and #3. Loss of bicarb such as diarrhea

Nursing interventions for Metabolic Acidosis

#1. Watch for respiration. May need vent, and #2. Watch for electrolytes, especially potassium, and #3. Watch for neurological status (weakness).

Causes of Metabolic Acidosis: ACIDOTIC

A: Aspirin Toxicity, and C: Carbohydrate not metabolizes and cause lactic acid, and I: Insufficient kidney function and not excreting H+, and D: Diarrhea, which lose Alkaline fluid (HCO3-), and O: Ostomy drainage such as ileostomy, and T: as fisTula, and fluid movement, and I: Intake of FAT diet high in Keton and low in HCO3-, and C: Carbonic Anhydric Inhibitor, which is Diamox. It does not absorb HCO3-.

Normal Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis

AG is normal. Losing too much HCO3- (Loss of alkaline fluid)

High Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis

AG more than 14. Too much H+ and not enough HCO3-; Such as DKA

How body try to compensate metabolic acidosis

Increased respiration and blow off CO2, which is acid. Sign: Kussumaul respiration