Acid-Base for Anesthesia Technicians

Acid-base balance helps anesthesia technicians and technologists understand the relationship between ventilation, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate, and blood pH. Recognizing these relationships provides an important foundation for understanding blood gas results, ventilation changes, and physiologic disturbances encountered during anesthesia.

This lesson covers pH, PaCO₂, bicarbonate, respiratory and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis, compensation, common causes, and basic ABG pattern recognition. Interactive activities and a scored learning check connect acid-base principles to the anesthesia technician's role while keeping diagnosis and treatment decisions within the anesthesia clinician's scope.