A client is admitted to the hospital with sudden, severe abdominal pain. The client is diagnosed with respiratory alkalosis
Which arterial blood gas value does the nurse document to support this diagnosis?
A) pH is 7.33 and PaCO2 is 36.
B) pH is 7.30 and HCO3 is 30.
C) pH is 7.47 and PaCO2 is 25.
D) pH is 7.35 and PaO2 is 88.
Answer: C
Acute pain usually causes hyperventilation, which causes the CO2 to drop and the client to experience respiratory alkalosis. The pH would denote alkalosis and would be higher than 7.45. HCO3 would trend downwards as the kidneys begin to compensate for the alkalosis by excreting HCO3. The PaO2 is likely to be normal unless the client has been hyperventilating for a long time and is beginning to tire.
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