How do you correct a respiratory acidosis?

An Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis is indicative of an acute ventilatory failure. Let's say this is a spontaneously breathing patient. The patient is not breathing enough to blow off their PaCO2. They need to increase their minute ventilation.

The ABG might look something like this:

pH, PaCO2, PaO2, HCO3-

7.2, 60, 77, 25

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The PaCO2 has risen, because the patient cannot keep up with their respiratory demand. this means we as respiratory therapists need to step in to help support their breathing.

We would need to add some kind of respiratory support including, but not limited to

- HFNC (high flow nasal cannula)

- BiPAP

- Intubation

Now, these respiratory support options are options, however, it is also important to always treat the underlying cause for the increased WOB. Is it a CHF exacerbation, COPD exacerbation, pneumonia, atelectasis, myocardial infarction, COVID? Just to mention a few!

In all, this is what we would do to generally give more respiratory support to the patient while we resolve the underlying cause of the shortness of breath.

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