I know that vomiting would result to Met. Alkalosis, but why is SEVERE vomiting would result to Met. Acidosis?

I know that vomiting would result to Metabolic Alkalosis since its gastric content is out, but I have read in the pocket RN Notes that if the condition becomes SEVERE (vomiting,) it would result now to Metabolic Acidosis but there is no rationale provided.

When you vomit several times, you are at first throwing up much of the acids in your stomach, so that you develop metabolic alkalosis. However with severe vomiting, pretty soon you are also throwing up the contents of the small intestine, which contains a lot of bicarbonates (alkali), so that after a while, you develop metabolic acidosis.

Lady D-------cellular function is dependent on the exchange of sodium and potassium------without the essential electrolytes needed---the cells will die causing a lack of perfusion.and eventually heart failure.

In the human body, normal metabolism generates large quantities of acids that must be eliminated to maintain a normal pH balance. Disruption of this balance can be caused by a buildup of acid or base or by an increased loss of acid or base. Acidosis occurs when blood pH falls below 7.35. Alkalosis occurs when blood pH rises above 7.45. Both of these conditions act as an alarm to the body; they trigger actions intended to restore the balance and to return the blood pH to its normal range.



Disorders that affect HCO3- concentration are called metabolic acidosis (low pH) and metabolic alkalosis (high pH). Metabolic acid-base disorders may be due to kidney disease and a variety of other conditions such as Diabetes( Diabetic ketoacidosis); severe vomitng and severe diarrhea.



Prolonged and excessive vomiting will deplete the body of water (dehydration) and may alter the electrolyte status. The loss of acids leads to metabolic alkalosis (increased blood pH), and the electrolyte imbalance shows hypokalemia (potassium depletion) and hypochloremia (chlorine depletion). The hypokalemia is an indirect result of the kidney compensating for the loss of acid.


The metabolic acidosis ( low ph) in severe vomiting is due to the build-up of different compounds; such as hydromium ions which are acidic in nature and the body does not have enough bicarbonate to effectively neutralize the effects of the acid.