A patient with dyspnea and chest pain has the following diagnostic study results. The nurse suspects the patient has which condition?
1. coronary artery disease and metabolic acidosis
2. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory acidosis
3. pulmonary embolism and respiratory alkalosis
4. acute asthma attack with metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: 3
: An elevated plasma D-dimer result indicates pulmonary embolism. Arterial blood gases usually show hypoxemia (PO2 < 80 mmHg) and often respiratory alkalosis (pH > 7.45, PaCO2 < 38 mmHg) due to tachypnea and hyperventilation. The patient does not have metabolic acidosis; the elevated pH indicates alkalosis. The patient does not have respiratory acidosis. An acute asthma attack would produce respiratory alkalosis.
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