Lecture on Tic-Tac-Toe Method for Solving Arterial Blood Gas Problems

Introduction

• Presenter: Sarah from Registered Nurse RN
• Topic: Using the tic-tac-toe method to solve arterial blood gas (ABG) problems
• Importance: Essential skill in nursing to interpret ABG values for conditions like respiratory or metabolic alkalosis/acidosis

Key Concepts

Arterial Blood Gas Values

• ABG Components: pH, PCO2, HCO3
• Normal Ranges:
  • pH: 7.35 - 7.45

    • 7.45: Alkalotic (Base)

    • < 7.35: Acidotic (Acid)
  • HCO3 (Bicarbonate): 22 - 26 mEq/L

    • 26: Metabolic Alkalosis (Base)

    • < 22: Metabolic Acidosis (Acid)
  • PCO2 (Partial Pressure of Carbon Dioxide): 35 - 45 mmHg
    • < 35: Respiratory Alkalosis (Base)

    • 45: Respiratory Acidosis (Acid)

Tic-Tac-Toe Method

• Setup:
  • Draw a tic-tac-toe grid
  • Label columns: Acid, Normal, Base
• Application:
  • Place pH, PCO2, and HCO3 in appropriate columns based on values

Solving Example Problem

• Given Values:
  • pH = 7.23
  • PCO2 = 50 mmHg
  • HCO3 = 30 mEq/L
• Analysis:
  • pH 7.23 is Acidic: Place under Acid column
  • PCO2 50 mmHg (Respiratory): Place under Acid column due to being above normal
  • HCO3 30 mEq/L (Metabolic): Place under Base column since it's above normal
• Interpretation:
  • Tic-tac-toe result indicates Respiratory Acidosis
  • Since HCO3 is also abnormal, it shows partial compensation

Conclusion

• Understanding Patterns:
  • Correct placement and interpretation lead to identifying condition and compensation status
• Educational Resources:
  • Further practice and quizzes available on Registered Nurse RN website
  • Upcoming videos: More on ABG disorders and compensation mechanisms

Additional Resources

• Visit Registered Nurse RN for:
  • NCLEX quizzes
  • Personality tests
  • Care plans
  • ABG quizzes
• Importance of continued practice for mastering ABG problems