Question

A nurse assess a patient who is experiencing an acid-base imbalance. The patient's arterial blood gas values are pH 7.32, PaO2 94mm Hg, PaCO2 34 mm Hg, and HCO3 18. For which clinical manifestations would the nurse assess? (Select all that apply.)

Answer 1

Here the nurse is assessing thepatient who is having acid-base imbalance.The arterial blood gas values are: *pH = 7.32

*Pao₂ = 94mm Hg

*Paco₂ = 34mm Hg (instead of 35-45mmHg as normal)

*HCO₃ = 18 (normal is between 23-30mEq/L)

Where the patient is having low pH level that less than 7.35,that may results from increased production of hydrogen ions in the body or decreased amount of bi-carbonate from the kidney.

The ABG levels showing that there is a decreased levels of blood pH and bicarbonates.The patient has metabolic acidosis.In case of metabolic acidosis the body tries to compensate the condition by increase the rate and depth of respirations (rapid and shallow breathing) and tries to breath out excess of CO_{2 .}There is a neuromuscular changes such as confusion and progressive skeletal muscle weakness results in decreased muscle tone and deep tendon reflexes.

Some times the skeletal muscle weakness results in severe respiratory insufficiency.

If unchecked the blood values frequently in case of metabolic acidosis or mainly the decresed bicarbonate levels that may leads to the serious consequences such as coma or even death.