Author Question: The underlying physiological process leading to pure hypercapnic respiratory failure is which of the ... (Read 178 times)

wenmo · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

The underlying physiological process leading to pure hypercapnic respiratory failure is which of the following?

a. Ventilation/perfusion mismatch
b. Intrapulmonary shunting
c. Diffusion impairment
d. Alveolar hypoventilation

Question 2

A patient with an opiate drug overdose is unconscious and has the following ABG results on room air: pH 7.20; PaCO2 88 mm Hg; PaO2 42 mm Hg; HCO3 25 mEq/L. Which of the following best describes this patient's condition?

a. Chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure
b. Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure
c. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
d. Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure

ErinKing · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
When a person cannot achieve adequate ventilation to maintain a normal partial pressure of car-bon dioxide in the arteries (PaCO2), it is known as acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. Ventila-tion/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, intrapulmonary shunting, and diffusion impairment lead to hy-poxemic respiratory failure.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
A drug overdose will affect the patient's central nervous system, knocking out the patient's res-piratory center. This will cause an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arteries (PaCO2). The alveolar hypoventilation is causing the low partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2). If this was a chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure the patient's bicarbonate level would be elevated above the normal level.