George Torres is admitted with a head injury. He is comatose and is breathing rapidly. His blood gases show a pH of 7.47, PaCO2 of 32 mm Hg, and HCO3- of 26 mEq/L. Compare these gases to normal values. What type of imbalance does this patient have, and is it being compensated or uncompensated?
Metabolic alkalosis, uncompensated
Respiratory acidosis, uncompensated
Respiratory alkalosis, uncompensated
Metabolic acidosis, uncompensated
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Metabolic alkalosis is a condition where the pH and the HCO3- are both elevated, indicating a loss of acids or a gain of bases in the body. This is not the case for this patient, as his HCO3- is within the normal range of 22 to 26 mEq/L.
Choice B reason: Respiratory acidosis is a condition where the pH and the PaCO2 are both low, indicating a retention of carbon dioxide in the lungs due to hypoventilation. This is not the case for this patient, as his pH is high and his PaCO2 is low.
Choice C reason: Respiratory alkalosis is a condition where the pH and the PaCO2 are both high, indicating a loss of carbon dioxide in the lungs due to hyperventilation. This is the case for this patient, as his pH is above the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45 and his PaCO2 is below the normal range of 35 to 45 mm Hg. This condition is uncompensated, as his HCO3- is within the normal range and has not changed to counteract the pH imbalance.
Choice D reason: Metabolic acidosis is a condition where the pH and the HCO3- are both low, indicating a gain of acids or a loss of bases in the body. This is not the case for this patient, as his pH is high and his HCO3- is within the normal range.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: This is correct because prolonged bed rest can cause hypocalcemia, or low serum calcium level. Calcium is stored in the bones and is released into the blood when the bones are stressed by weight-bearing activities. When a person is on bed rest, the bones are not stimulated and the calcium remains in the bones, leading to a decrease in serum calcium level.
Choice B reason: This is incorrect because too much butter consumption does not affect the serum calcium level directly. Butter is a source of fat and calories, which can affect the cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but not the calcium level. However, too much butter consumption can cause obesity, which can increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Choice C reason: This is incorrect because hyperparathyroidism can cause hypercalcemia, or high serum calcium level. Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (PTH), which regulates the calcium and phosphorus balance in the body. PTH stimulates the release of calcium from the bones into the blood, leading to an increase in serum calcium level.
Choice D reason: This is incorrect because excessive ingestion of vitamin D can also cause hypercalcemia, or high serum calcium level. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium from the food and supplements. When a person takes too much vitamin D, the calcium absorption is increased and the serum calcium level rises.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
An isotonic solution is a solution that has the same osmotic pressure as another solution, which means that the solute concentration on both sides of a semipermeable membrane is equal. This causes no net movement of water across the membrane, and the cells remain the same size and shape. An example of an isotonic solution is normal saline (0.9% sodium chloride), which is used to treat dehydration and fluid loss.
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