Question

You are called for respiratory distress. You arrive to find a male CAOx4 complaining of breathing problems. He has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure (CHF), states he feels like he is drowning, and has waited too long to call 911. His vitals are as follows: BP 202/108, SPO2 78% room air, RR 58 and shallow, pulse of 126 strong and regular, sinus tach on the monitor, and ETCO2 of 24mmHg with a shark fin waveform. He is extremely fatigued and his respiratory rate is beginning to slow as you get him into your ambulance.Without ventilatory intervention this patient will soon decline into what acid-base imbalance?

Answer 1

Respiratory alkalosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Respiratory alkalosis may be defined as the imbalance of acid-base in the individual's body due to hyperventilation. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide decreases that causes the increase in bicarbonate ions in respiratory alkalosis.

The patient complains of the breathing problems and his vital signs include pulse of 126 strong and regular, sinus tach on the monitor, and ETCO2 of 24mmHg with a shark fin waveform. This clearly indicates the case respiratory alkalosis in the patient.

Thus, the answer is respiratory alkalosis.