Hydrogen ions are transported from the filtered urine back into plasma, with sodium ions and bicarbonate left behind. Alkaline sodium bicarbonate is thus eliminated. 31.2 Go to Index. Respiratory Acidosis Causes of respiratory acidosis Buildup of carbon dioxide occurs when ventilations are inadequate. When respiration ceases due to cardiac arrest, of course, respiratory acidosis is an immediate result.
Respiratory acidosis can also result when obstruction of air motion leads to carbon dioxide buildup.
Severe asthma and foreign body obstruction are examples. 22 Compensation of respiratory acidosis Whereas respiratory changes can occur within seconds or minutes, metabolic changes take hours to days. Compensation for respiratory acidosis must occur through elimination of acid through the kidney, as discussed above under metabolic acidosis. Only in chronic respiratory problems, such as severe obstructive airway disease, will compensation be seen. Respiratory alkalosis occurs due to hyperventilation.