Question

Kussmaul respirations are an indication that the body is:

1) attempting to eliminate acids from the blood.
2) trying to generate energy by breathing deeply.
3) severely hypoxic and is eliminating excess CO2.
4) compensating for decreased blood glucose levels.

Answer 1

Kussmaul respirations indicate that the body is attempting to eliminate acids from the blood by expelling more CO2, in an effort to compensate for metabolic acidosis, such as that seen in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Kussmaul respirations are a clinical sign characterized by deep and labored breathing patterns that are often associated with severe metabolic acidosis, particularly diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). When the body has an excess amount of acids, such as ketones during DKA, it attempts to compensate by eliminating acids from the blood through the lungs by exhaling carbon dioxide (CO2). This is because the body is trying to decrease the acid level and increase the pH of the blood back toward normal, which is a process known as compensation for metabolic acidosis.

Contrary to trying to generate energy or responding to hypoxia, Kussmaul respirations specifically denote the body's attempt to correct the acid-base imbalance by increasing the breathing rate and depth to expel more CO2, effectively lowering the levels of carbonic acid in the blood.