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An arterial blood gas (ABG) test, or arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.An ABG test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the radial artery with a syringe and a thin needle, [1] but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or another site is used.
High anion gap metabolic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis characterized by a high anion gap (a medical value based on the concentrations of ions in a patient's serum). Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much acid , or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body.
Metabolic acidosis has three main root causes: increased acid production, loss of bicarbonate, and a reduced ability of the kidneys to excrete excess acids. [5] Metabolic acidosis can lead to acidemia, which is defined as arterial blood pH that is lower than 7.35. [6]
The magnitude of this difference (i.e., "gap") in the serum is calculated to identify metabolic acidosis. If the gap is greater than normal, then high anion gap metabolic acidosis is diagnosed. The term "anion gap" usually implies "serum anion gap", but the urine anion gap is also a clinically useful measure. [4] [5] [6] [7]
It is used to aid in the differential diagnosis of metabolic acidosis. [2] The term "anion gap" without qualification usually implies serum anion gap. The "urine anion gap" is a different measure, principally used to determine whether the kidneys are capable of appropriately acidifying urine.
In general, the cause of a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis is a loss of base, either a gastrointestinal loss or a renal loss [citation needed]. Gastrointestinal loss of bicarbonate (HCO − 3) [citation needed] Severe diarrhea (vomiting will tend to cause hypochloraemic alkalosis) Pancreatic fistula with loss of bicarbonate rich pancreatic fluid
Metabolic acidosis is compensated for in the lungs, as increased exhalation of carbon dioxide promptly shifts the buffering equation to reduce metabolic acid. This is a result of stimulation to chemoreceptors , which increases alveolar ventilation , leading to respiratory compensation, otherwise known as Kussmaul breathing (a specific type of ...
When this happens the numerator is large, the denominator is small, and the result is a delta ratio which is high (>2). This means a combined high anion gap metabolic acidosis and a pre-existing either respiratory acidosis or metabolic alkalosis (causing the high bicarbonate) – i.e. a mixed acid–base metabolic acidosis. [citation needed]