Question

What disorder is indicated by these findings? A client comes to the emergency department with status asthmaticus. His respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and he is wheezing. An arterial blood gas analysis reveals a pH of 7.52, a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 30 mm Hg, PaO2 of 70 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3−) of 26 mEq/L.

A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis

Answer 1

Respiratory alkalosis

Step-by-step explanation:

Hyperventilation is one of the causes of respiratory alkalosis. This patient has a respiratory rate of 48 cycles per minute, due to the rapid breathing there is excessive loss of CO2 which required for the production of H ion leading to loss of acid. The values above shows that there is high pH (alkalosis), low PaCO2 (hypocapnia), low PaO2 (hypoxaemia) and the bicarbonate is within normal.