Question

rebecca was rushed to the hospital due to decreased level of consciousness after a motor vehicle accident. the patient displays slow and deep breathing (kussmaul), and is irritable in response to stimulation. how would you interpret the arterial blood gas shown below?

Answer 1

A patient with Kussmaul respiration, irritability, and altered consciousness likely indicates metabolic acidosis, with the body compensating by increasing the breathing rate and depth to correct the blood pH.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the clinical presentation of slow and deep breathing (Kussmaul respiration), irritability, and a decreased level of consciousness, coupled with the provided arterial blood gas (ABG) values, it suggests a state of metabolic acidosis. Kussmaul breathing is often a compensation mechanism for metabolic acidosis, wherein the body tries to expel more CO2 to raise the blood pH levels back to normal.

Since the patient is irritable in response to stimulation, this neurological symptom, along with the deep breathing pattern, supports the diagnosis of acidosis likely due to a metabolic cause, such as diabetic ketoacidosis or renal failure, especially after a traumatic event like a motor vehicle accident.