A nurse is assessing a patient who has mitral valve stenosis.
What symptoms should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale:

A respiratory rate of 28/min is not an indication that the intervention was effective. A normal respiratory rate for an adult at rest is between 12 and 20 breaths per minute. A respiratory rate of 28/min is considered tachypnea, which could be a sign of respiratory distress, not an improvement.

Choice B rationale:

Pink mucous membranes are a good sign. They indicate effective oxygenation and perfusion. When the body is receiving an adequate amount of oxygen, the skin, lips, and mucous membranes can appear pink. This is a positive outcome of oxygen therapy for hypoxia.

Choice C rationale:

A heart rate of 110/min is not an indication that the intervention was effective. A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. A heart rate of 110/min is considered tachycardia, which could be a sign of distress or compensation for hypoxia, not an improvement.

Choice D rationale:

Restlessness is not an indication that the intervention was effective. On the contrary, restlessness can be a sign of inadequate oxygenation. When the brain does not receive enough oxygen, a patient can become restless or anxious. Therefore, restlessness is not a positive outcome of oxygen therapy for hypoxia.

Choice A rationale:

Metabolic alkalosis Metabolic alkalosis is a condition that occurs when your body has too many bases. It can occur due to prolonged vomiting, use of diuretics, or an overuse of antacids. In the context of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), metabolic alkalosis is not typically a direct result of the disease. COPD primarily affects the respiratory system and does not directly cause an imbalance of bases in the body.

Choice B rationale:

Respiratory acidosis Respiratory acidosis is a condition that occurs when the lungs can’t remove enough carbon dioxide (CO2). This leads to a buildup of CO2 in the body, causing the pH of the blood to decrease and become more acidic. This is the most common acid-base imbalance seen in patients with COPD1. COPD can cause an alteration in respiratory exchanges, leading to retention of CO21. The consequence of hypercapnia due to alteration of gas exchange in COPD patients mainly consists in an increase of H+ concentration and development of respiratory acidosis.

Respiratory alkalosis Respiratory alkalosis is a condition that occurs when there is too little carbon dioxide in the body, often due to hyperventilation. In the context of COPD, this is less likely because COPD patients often have difficulty expelling carbon dioxide, not an excess of it being expelled.

Choice D rationale:

Metabolic Acidosis Metabolic acidosis occurs when the body produces too much acid, or when the kidneys are not removing enough acid from the body. This can occur due to conditions such as kidney disease, lactic acidosis, or ketoacidosis. While COPD can have wide-ranging effects on the body, it does not typically cause metabolic acidosis directly.