A client in the Emergency Department has been vomiting for the past three days. The nurse notes the arterial blood gas results of: pH 7.50, PaCO2 38, PaO2 80, and HCO3 29. The nurse realizes that the client is experiencing:
1. metabolic alkalosis.
2. metabolic acidosis.
3. respiratory alkalosis.
4. respiratory acidosis.
Answer: 1
1. The nurse notes that the client has been vomiting for 3 days, and is losing acid from the stomach, so should expect alkalosis. The CO2 is normal, which would indicate a metabolic problem rather than a respiratory one. The pH and bicarbonate levels are elevated.
2. With metabolic acidosis, the pH is low and the HCO3 is low as well.
3. In respiratory alkalosis, the CO2 is low and the pH is high.
4. In respiratory acidosis, the CO2 is high and the pH is low.
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