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Respiratory alkalosis
From WikEM
Contents
Background
Clinical Features
- Hyperventilation
Differential Diagnosis
- Asthma
- PE
- DKA
- Anxiety
- Hypoxia
- early Sepsis/fever/Pneumonia
- Hyperthyroid
- Sympathomimetics
- Aspirin (Salicylate) Toxicity
- Progesterone/pregnancy
- Liver disease
- CVA or other central cause
Evaluation
- alkalemia = pH >7.42
- respiratory alkalosis = pCO2 <38
- May lead to Hypocalcemia, Hypokalemia
- Check for a concurrent acid/base disturbance
- always check for an AG
- for every 10mm pCO2 <40, HCO3 expected to decrease by 1-3.5 mEq
- if HCO3 < 24 - (40-pCO2)/10 x 2.5 (+/-1) then there is a superimposed primary metabolic acidosis
- if HCO3 > 24 - (40-pCO2)/10 x 2.5 (+/-1) then there is a primary metabolic alkalosis, or acute respiratory alkalosis without time for metabolic compensation
