Question

A 65 year-old female patient with advanced emphysema comes to the ED and is placed on a nasal cannula at 6 L/min. On inspection, the respiratory therapist finds that the patient has become drowsy and less responsive since the oxygen therapy was initiated an hour ago. ABG on 6 L/min are ____________. pH 7.33, PaCO₂ 64 torr, PaO2 85 torr, HCO₃ 35 mEq/L. Which of the following should the therapist recommend?

1) Leave the patient on the cannula and continue to monitor.
2) Change to a 24
3) Change to a simple oxygen mask and repeat ABG.
4) Prepare the patient for endotracheal intubation.

Answer 1

The ABG results indicate respiratory acidosis and possible compensation. The therapist should recommend changing to a simple oxygen mask and repeating the ABG.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ABG results for the 65 year-old female patient with advanced emphysema on a nasal cannula at 6 L/min are as follows:

• pH: 7.33 (below the normal range of 7.35-7.45)
• PaCO₂: 64 torr (higher than the normal range)
• PaO₂: 85 torr (within the normal range)
• HCO₃: 35 mEq/L (higher than the normal range)

Based on these results, the therapist should recommend changing to a simple oxygen mask and repeating the ABG to determine the patient's response to the change in oxygen therapy.