After arterial blood has been drawn from a patient, which of the ...

[Beheh]

After arterial blood has been drawn from a patient, which of the following should be done to the blood?
 
  a. Transported at 37 C c. Transported in an ice bath
  b. Processed after 5 minutes d. Placed in the freez-er until processed

Question 2

A 60-year-old male patient is admitted to the medical unit with a bowel obstruction causing him to vomit frequently.
 
  What is the correct interpretation of the most recent arterial blood gas values for this patient: pH = 7.51; PaCO2 = 43 mm Hg; and HCO3 = 34 mEq/L?
  a. Respiratory acidosis c. Respiratory alkalo-sis
  b. Metabolic acidosis d. Metabolic alkalosis

[pratush dev]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
Chilling the blood specimen to below 5 C by placing the syringe in ice water can reduce the metabolic rate of the white blood cells. Transporting without the ice bath may take longer than 5 minutes, prolonging the delay between obtaining and analyzing the specimen, which can lead to erroneous results. Placing the blood in a freezer will not cool all sides of the syringe as uniformly as an ice water bath.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
The increased pH indicates alkalosis, and the HCO3 is increased, reflecting a primary metabolic problem most likely caused by the patient's vomiting.

[Beheh]

Excellent

[dyrone]

Gracias!