A Quick Reference on Respiratory Alkalosis

Rebecca A Johnson

doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.10.005

A Quick Reference on Respiratory Alkalosis

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2017 Mar;47(2):181-184. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.10.005. Epub 2016 Dec 8.

Author

Rebecca A Johnson¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2015 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. Electronic address: rebecca.johnson@wisc.edu.

PMID: 27939863
DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2016.10.005

Abstract

Respiratory alkalosis, or primary hypocapnia, occurs when alveolar ventilation exceeds that required to eliminate the carbon dioxide produced by tissues. Concurrent decreases in Paco₂, increases in pH, and compensatory decreases in blood HCO₃^- levels are associated with respiratory alkalosis. Respiratory alkalosis can be acute or chronic, with metabolic compensation initially consisting of cellular uptake of HCO₃^- and buffering by intracellular phosphates and proteins. Chronic respiratory alkalosis results in longer-lasting decreases in renal reabsorption of HCO₃^-; the arterial pH can approach near-normal values.

Keywords: Alveolar hyperventilation; Arterial blood gas; Hypocapnia; Metabolic compensation; Respiratory alkalosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acid-Base Equilibrium
Acid-Base Imbalance / veterinary
Algorithms
Alkalosis, Respiratory / diagnosis
Alkalosis, Respiratory / etiology
Alkalosis, Respiratory / physiopathology
Alkalosis, Respiratory / veterinary*
Animals