Question

5- A client with pneumonia presents with the following arterial blood gases: PH of 7.15, PaCO2 of 46, and HCO3 of 34mEq/l, which of the following is the nursing interpretation?

A) Respiratory alkalosis

B) Metabolic acidosis

C) Metabolic alkalosis

D) Respiratory acidosis

Answer 1

As patient is having pH of 7.15 in arterial blood.. this is clearly suggesting that patient is having acidosis... Because pH less than 7.4 is acidosis and More than 7.4 is alkalosis...

So now we need to find it is wheather metabolic or Respiratory acidosis..

If patient is having Pco2 more than 40 mmHg it suggests that it is respiratory acidosis. If patient is having Bicarbonate levels less than 24 mEq/L it suggests metabolic acidosis..

So in our patients we Pco2 more than 40 mmHg so it is respiratory acidosis...

Mechanism of this is

Reduced rate of respiration leads to accumulate more CO2 in the body this leads to more bicarbonate in the blood..

This increase H+ ions in the body this leads to reduced pH...so more acidic...

I hope by the above description u got your answer.. if u have any questions you can ask in comment section..