A patient who has fully compensated respiratory acidosis becomes ...

[shofmannx20]

A patient who has fully compensated respiratory acidosis becomes severely hypoxic. If her lungs are not too severely compromised, what might her gases now appear to be?
 
  a. Fully compensated metabolic acidosis
  b. Fully compensated metabolic alkalosis
  c. Fully compensated respiratory alkalosis
  d. No change

Question 2

What condition or treatment could cause iatrogenic respiratory alkalosis?
 
  a. Central nervous system stimulation
  b. Mechanical hyperventilation
  c. Severe hypoxemia
  d. Vagal stimulation

[Edwyer]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Consider a patient with a compensated respiratory acidosis who has an arterial pH of 7.38, a PaCO2 of 58 mm Hg, and an HCO3 of 33 mEq/L. If this patient becomes severely hypoxic, the hypoxia may stimulate increased alveolar ventilation if lung mechanics are not too severely de-ranged. This would acutely lower the PaCO2, possibly raising the pH to the alkalotic side of normal. For example, the patient's blood gas values might now be as follows: pH of 7.44, PaCO2 of 50 mm Hg, and HCO3 of 33 mEq/L.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis also may be iatrogenically induced (induced by medi-cal treatment). Such hyperventilation is most commonly associated with overly aggressive me-chanical ventilation.

[shofmannx20]

Thank you

[Edwyer]

No problemo