Question

If a patient has a PaCO2=60, what would it be if the Vt was increased from 600cc to 800 cc?

a) 40
b) 50
c) 60
d) 70

Answer 1

If the Vt is increased from 600 cc to 800 cc, the new PaCO2 would be 45 mm Hg.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the tidal volume (Vt) increases, it can lead to changes in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in the blood. To determine the new PaCO2, you can use the formula:

New PaCO2 = (Old PaCO2 * Old Vt) / New Vt

In this case, the old PaCO2 is 60 mm Hg and the old Vt is 600 cc. Substituting these values into the formula, we get:
New PaCO2 = (60 mm Hg * 600 cc) / 800 cc = 45 mm Hg

Therefore, if the Vt is increased from 600 cc to 800 cc, the new PaCO2 would be 45 mm Hg.