Question

The nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas results of a client with a respiratory disorder. Which of the following would alert the nurse to a problem?

a) pH of 7.35
b) PaCO2 of 55 mmHg
c) HCO3 of 25 mEq/L
d) PaO2 of 92 mmHg

Answer 1

The PaCO2 level of 55 mmHg is the ABG result that indicates a problem, suggesting respiratory acidosis, as it exceeds the normal reference range for carbon dioxide partial pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse is reviewing the arterial blood gas results of a client with a respiratory disorder. The arterial blood gas (ABG) results that would alert the nurse to a problem are a PaCO2 of 55 mmHg, HCO3 of 25 mEq/L, pH of 7.35, and PaO2 of 92 mmHg. Among these results, the PaCO2 value is the one that indicates an issue. According to the reference values in Table 26.3, the normal range for PaCO2 is 35-48 mm Hg for males and 32-45 mm Hg for females. Therefore, a PaCO2 of 55 mmHg is higher than normal and could suggest a state of respiratory acidosis, in which excess CO2 is present in the blood. This is often seen in conditions that impair lung ventilation, such as asthma or emphysema. On the other hand, the pH of 7.35 is at the lower end of the normal range (7.35-7.45), the HCO3 of 25 mEq/L is within the normal range (22-29 mM), and the PaO2 of 92 mmHg is also typically considered normal. Therefore, the element of concern here is the elevated PaCO2, which points to a potential respiratory problem.