A homeless client is brought into the emergency department with indications of extremely poor nutrition. Arterial blood gases are assessed and the nurse anticipates that this client will demon-strate which of the following results?

Question

a. pH, 7.3; PaCO2, 38 mm Hg; HCO3, 19 mmol/L
b. pH, 7.5; PaCO2, 34 mm Hg; HCO3, 20 mmol/L
c. pH, 7.35; PaCO2, 35 mm Hg; HCO3, 24 mmol/L
d. pH, 7.52; PaCO2, 48 mm Hg; HCO3, 28 mmol/L

Answer 1

A
Metabolic acidosis may be found in cases of starvation. At 7.3 the client's pH is below the nor-mal (7.35 to 7.45), the PaCO2 is in the normal range of 35 to 45 mm Hg (at 38 mm Hg), and at 19 mmol/L, the HCO3 is below the normal of 22 to 26 mmol/L. These findings demonstrate metabolic acidosis.
The values pH, 7.5; PaCO2, 34 mm Hg; HCO3, 20 mmol/L are consistent with respiratory alka-losis, compensated. This would not be typical of malnutrition.
The values pH, 7.35; PaCO2, 35 mm Hg; HCO3, 24 mmol/L represent normal arterial blood gas results.
The values pH, 7.52; PaCO2, 48 mm Hg; HCO3, 28 mmol/L are consistent with metabolic alka-losis, compensated. This would not be an expected finding with extremely poor nutrition.