Final answer:
Adding 6 inches of dead space to a breathing circuit leads to impaired clearance of CO2, which would result in an increase in the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2), although the exact value is not specified in the provided materials.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the predicted change in partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) when adding 6 inches of dead space to a breathing circuit. Dead space refers to areas where air is not effectively participating in gas exchange, either due to anatomical issues (anatomical dead space) or functional impairments (physiological dead space). Given that additional dead space in the respiratory circuit impedes the effective clearance of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the body, we can anticipate an increase in PaCO2. Although the exact change is not provided in the reference, a general understanding is that as dead space increases, the levels of CO2 also increase as the clearance of CO2 during exhalation is less efficient.