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A patient with a 3 day history of nausea and vomiting presents to the emergency room. The patient is hypoventilating with a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute. The patient's EKG displays a tachycardia rhythm with a heart rate of 120 beats per minute. Arterial blood gases are drawn and the nurse reviews the results, expecting to note which finding?

A) A decreased pH and an increased CO₂
B) An increase pH and a decrease in CO₂
C) A decreased pH and a decrease in HCO₃
D) An increase pH and an increase in HCO₃

User Falico
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Final answer:

The nurse would expect to find ABG results indicating respiratory acidosis, which is shown by a decreased pH and increased CO₂ levels, due to hypoventilation. Metabolic compensation, if occurring, could also lead to increased bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) levels, although in the early stages this may not be fully evident.

Step-by-step explanation:

Interpreting ABG Results

Given the patient's symptoms and vital signs indicating hypoventilation (a respiratory rate of 10 breaths per minute), along with the symptoms of nausea and vomiting for 3 days, the nurse would expect the arterial blood gases (ABG) to show features consistent with respiratory acidosis. This is characterized by a decreased pH and an increased CO₂ level, which means that the body is retaining more carbon dioxide due to inadequate ventilation. In a case where the respiratory system is compromised, the body may try to compensate metabolically by increasing bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) levels, but this would not be an immediate response and might not be evident in the early stage of hypoventilation.

Considering these factors, the expected ABG findings for this patient would be a decrease in pH and an increase in CO₂. An increase in blood HCO₃⁻ might also be present if the patient's body has begun metabolic compensation for the respiratory acidosis. However, compensation might not be fully evident if the condition has been present for only a short time frame, as complete metabolic compensation can take several days.

Therefore, the most expected ABG result for this scenario, considering being in the early stages, would be option A) A decreased pH and an increased CO₂.

User Gaurawerma
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