Final answer:
In infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), the presence of respiratory alkalosis is an incorrect finding, as IRDS typically leads to respiratory acidosis due to elevated carbon dioxide levels in the blood and not an increase in pH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS), specifically identifying the incorrect expected finding among a list. IRDS, a condition more prevalent in premature infants, is typically characterized by insufficient production of pulmonary surfactant, leading to difficulty in lung inflation and exchange of gases. This insufficient surfactant production results in several clinical manifestations.
When discussing expected findings in IRDS, we know that the condition causes severe hypoxia due to the inability of the lungs to properly facilitate gas exchange, which leads to low oxygen levels in the blood. Additionally, pulmonary vasoconstriction may occur as a response to low oxygen levels. Moreover, fluid and protein may leak into the alveoli, further impairing gas exchange. Contrarily, one would expect respiratory acidosis rather than respiratory alkalosis in IRDS, due to an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream as the lungs struggle to exhale it effectively.
Therefore, the incorrect finding in the context of IRDS would be respiratory alkalosis, which is characterized by a high pH indicating a decrease in carbon dioxide or an increase in bicarbonate levels. Yet, in IRDS, carbon dioxide levels are typically elevated, leading to respiratory acidosis rather than alkalosis.