Question

1. A client arrives to the hospital with a suspected opioid overdose. Which of the following ABGs would best represent the suspected acid-base imbalance?

levels for pH, CO2, and HCO3

Answer 1

The ABG that would best represent the suspected acid-base imbalance for a client with a suspected opioid overdose is pH. In an acidic solution, the hydrogen ion concentration increases and the pH falls. Normal pH is between 7.35 and 7.45, which is achieved through the excretion of acids and buffering. Acid-base imbalance is a condition where the body's right balance of acids and bases is lost, which causes the pH to deviate from the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45.