Author Question: A patient in the ICU starts complaining of being short of breath. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is ... (Read 85 times)

vinney12 · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

A patient in the ICU starts complaining of being short of breath. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is drawn. The ABG has the following values: pH = 7.21, PaCO2 = 64 mm Hg, HCO3 = 24 mm Hg. What does the ABG reflect?

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

Question 2

You are caring for a 65-year-old male patient admitted to your unit 72 hours ago with pyloric stenosis. A nasogastric tube was placed upon admission and has been on low intermittent suction ever since.

You notice that the patient's potassium is very low. What would you be concerned that the patient may be at risk for?
A) Hypercalcemia
B) Metabolic acidosis
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory acidosis