Word parts
What it means
A type of acidosisas-ih-DOH-sisA state in which the blood is more acidic than normal, with a pH below 7.35.acid -osis abnormal conditionFull entry that starts outside the lungs. On an arterial blood gasar-TEER-ee-ul BLUD GASA blood test from an artery that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and the blood's pH.Full entry , the pH is below 7.35 and the bicarbonate (HCO3-) is below 22 mEq/L. Causes include diabetic ketoacidosisdy-uh-BET-ik kee-toh-as-ih-DOH-sisA state of high blood glucose, ketones in the blood and acidic blood, caused by a lack of insulin.ket/o ketonesacid/o acid-osis abnormal conditionFull entry , kidney failure, severe diarrhea (which loses bicarbonate), lactic acid from shock or sepsis, and some poisonings. The lungs try to make up for it by breathing faster and deeper to blow off carbon dioxide.
For the nurse
Treatment is aimed at the cause. Watch breathing, level of consciousness and potassium, which often shifts out of the cells into the blood when the blood is acidic. Deep, rapid breathing (Kussmaul respirationsKOOS-mowl res-puh-RAY-shunzA breathing pattern of deep, rapid, labored breaths at an even pace.Full entry ) is the body's attempt to fix it.
Remember it
Metabolic acidosis: pH down, bicarbonate down (both go the same way).
At a glance
| Normal range | pH 7.35–7.45; HCO3- 22–26 mEq/L [22–26 mmol/L] |
|---|---|
| Spanish | acidosis metabólica |
Related terms
Kussmaul respirations
A breathing pattern of deep, rapid, labored breaths at an even pace.
diabetic ketoacidosis
A state of high blood glucose, ketones in the blood and acidic blood, caused by a lack of insulin.
arterial blood gas
A blood test from an artery that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and the blood's pH.
acidosis
A state in which the blood is more acidic than normal, with a pH below 7.35.
carbon dioxide
A gas made by the body's cells as waste, carried in the blood to the lungs and breathed out.