Respiratory acidosis

Alternative names:

chronic respiratory acidosis

Definition:

A disturbance of the body acid-base balance in which there is an excessive acidity of body fluids or a loss of alkali (base). This is caused by the failure of the lung to remove carbon dioxide.

Respiratory acidosis can be a consequence of bronchitis, asthma or airway obstruction. In this case, the acidosis can be severe or mild.

In chronic respiratory acidosis, there is retention of carbon dioxide in the lungs on a stable and regular basis, causing increased bicarbonate production and only a mild acidosis.