Question

Your patient is a 65-year-old smoker. She was diagnosed with emphysema, causing her to hypoventilate. When her blood pH is checked, it measures at 7.40. (8 pts) a. Explain what emphysema is and the effects that emphysema has on gas exchange in the alveoli. b. What acid-base disorder (if any) does your patient have? Explain your answer and include what is causing the disorder. c. Explain what you suspect her pCO2 levels to be, her bicarbonate (HCO3 - ) levels, and identify if there is any compensating system. d. If there is a compensating system, explain specifically what that system is doing to correct the acid-base imbalance.

Answer 1

Emphysema is a condition that affect the respiratory system and in this condition big sacs of air are formed by the destruction of the alveolar wall . In this condition the carbon dioxide exhalation ability is reduced and the blood pH reduces

Question no 2

My patient is having RESPIRATORY acidosis and this is due to patients inability to excrete the co2 level in blood through exhalation. The co2 level in blood increase that in hypercapnia for a long period will cause depression in RESPIRATORY rate which will cause again accumulation of co2 and causing acidosis

Question no 3

Her pco2 level will be high than normal and the her hco3 level will also be high as a compensatory Mechanism

Question no 4

The compensatory Mechanism for respiratory acidosis is the metabolic alkalosis that is by increasing the excretion of the H+ from blood and retention of HCO3 to increase blood ph