A patient, diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, presents with Kussmaul respirations at a rate of 28. What is the most likely rationale for this respiratory parameter?
1. metabolic compensation
2. respiratory compensation
3. hypoxemia
4. respiratory acidosis
2
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are a very deep type of breathing pattern. A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis has a primary metabolic acidosis. As a compensatory mechanism to regain acid–base homeostasis, alveolar hyperventilation occurs in an attempt to blow off carbon dioxide and drive the pH upward toward alkaline. The respiratory buffer system is a rapid-response compensatory mechanism for metabolic acid–base disturbances. Hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis are frequently a result of uncorrected alveolar hypoventilation.
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