The nurse cares for a critically ill client with a severe acid-base imbalance. When reviewing the client's anion gap, which additional laboratory value does the nurse recognize may skew the anion gap results?
A) Hemoglobin
B) Albumin
C) PaO2
D) PaCO2
B) Albumin
Explanation: A) Albumin, which is an anion, makes up part of the anion gap. So if a patient has a low albumin level (hypoalbuminemia), a common finding in critically ill patients, the anion gap will be lower than normal. Hemoglobin, PaO2, and PaCO2 do not make up the anion gap.
B) Albumin, which is an anion, makes up part of the anion gap. So if a patient has a low albumin level (hypoalbuminemia), a common finding in critically ill patients, the anion gap will be lower than normal. Hemoglobin, PaO2, and PaCO2 do not make up the anion gap.
C) Albumin, which is an anion, makes up part of the anion gap. So if a patient has a low albumin level (hypoalbuminemia), a common finding in critically ill patients, the anion gap will be lower than normal. Hemoglobin, PaO2, and PaCO2 do not make up the anion gap.
D) Albumin, which is an anion, makes up part of the anion gap. So if a patient has a low albumin level (hypoalbuminemia), a common finding in critically ill patients, the anion gap will be lower than normal. Hemoglobin, PaO2, and PaCO2 do not make up the anion gap.
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