The principals of this new paradigm are
A
low pH of the blood or body fluid is an Acidemia
A high pH of
the blood or body fluid is an Alkalemia
An acidosis is a process
producing a lower pH or in the direction of an acidemia.
An
alkalosis is a process producing a higher pH or in the direction of
an alkalemia.
These changes is terminology have profound implications for the concepts of acid base terminology. For instance a metabolic acidosis means that there is or has been a process producing metabolic acids. This does not mean that the pH is abnormally low. That is acidemia which is different from acidosis.
The
severity of a metabolic acidosis is based on the HCO3- level and not
the pH.
The severity of a respiratory acidosis, is based on the
arterial PaCO2- and not the pH
Acid Base Abbreviations
H+
Hydrogen Ion H+
Ph Negative log of H+
pO2 Partial pressure
of Oxygen
PaO2 Partial Pressure of Oxygen in Arterial Blood
pCO2
Partial pressure of Carbon Dioxide pCO2
PaCO2 Partial Pressure
of Carbon Dioxide in Arterial Blood
HCO3− Bicarbonate ion