Question

The patient with CKD is brought to the emergency department with Kussmaul respirations. What does the nurse know about CKD that could cause this patient's Kussmaul respirations?

a. Uremic pleuritis is occurring.
b. There is decreased pulmonary macrophage activity.
c. They are caused by respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis.
d. Pulmonary edema from heart failure and fluid overload is occurring.

Answer 1

Kussmaul respirations in a patient with CKD can be caused by respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid, and labored breathing patterns often seen in patients with metabolic acidosis, as a compensatory response by the body to get rid of excess acid. In the case of a patient with CKD, the nurse would know that a possible cause of Kussmaul respirations is respiratory compensation for metabolic acidosis. This occurs because in CKD, the kidneys are unable to effectively remove acid from the body, causing an accumulation of acid. The body compensates by increasing the rate and depth of breathing to blow off carbon dioxide (which combines with water in the blood to form carbonic acid) and eliminate excess acid.