Which of the following mechanically ventilated patients shows ...

[vinney12]

Which of the following mechanically ventilated patients shows clinical signs of hypoventilation?
 
  a. A patient who is cool to the touch and has negative T waves on the ECG
  b. A patient who has twitchy extremities and also atrial flutter on the ECG
  c. A patient who is anxious and hypertensive and has elevated T waves on the ECG
  d. A patient who has cool, twitchy extremi-ties and also low, rounded T waves on the ECG

Question 2

Which of the following mechanically ventilated patients shows clinical signs of hyperventilation?
 
  a. A patient who has hot skin and also long P-R intervals on the ECG.
  b. A patient who has cool skin and also shows paroxysmal tachycardia on the ECG.
  c. A patient who is hypertensive and agitat-ed and has S-T segment depression on the ECG.
  d. A patient who is hypotensive and dyspne-ic and has widened QRS complexes on the ECG.

[nyrave]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Anxiety and hypertension (mild to moderate acidosis) are clinical signs of hypoventilation, along with elevated T waves on an ECG. Patients with hyperventilation are cool to the touch, have twitchy muscles from hypokalemia, and have low, rounded T waves, atrial flutter, or negative T waves on the ECG.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Cool skin and paroxysmal tachycardia are signs of decreased PaCO2. All the other answers are signs of hypoventilation.