Critical Care Nursing Practice Questions Related

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After coronary artery bypass graft surgery a patient is transported to the surgical intensive care unit at noon and placed on mechanical ventilation. How sh ould the nurse interpret the patient’s initial arterial blood gas levels? pH 7.31 PaCO 48 mm Hg Bicarbonate 22 mEq/L PaO 115 mm Hg O saturation 99%

  • A. Normal arterial blood gas levels with a high oxygen le vel
  • B. Partly compensated respiratory acidosis, normal oxygen
  • C. Uncompensated metabolic acidosis with high oxygen laebvirbe.lcso m/test
  • D. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis; hyperoxygenated
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Partly compensated respiratory acidosis, normal oxygen. The pH of 7.31 indicates acidosis, the PaCO2 of 48 mm Hg shows respiratory acidosis, and the bicarbonate level of 22 mEq/L is slightly elevated, indicating the kidneys are compensating. The PaO2 of 115 mm Hg and oxygen saturation of 99% are normal, ruling out hypoxemia. Therefore, the patient is experiencing partly compensated respiratory acidosis.

A: Normal arterial blood gas levels with a high oxygen level - Incorrect. The pH is low, indicating acidosis, which is not normal.
C: Uncompensated metabolic acidosis with high oxygen level - Incorrect. Metabolic acidosis would have a primary issue with bicarbonate levels, which is not the case here.
D: Uncompensated respiratory acidosis; hyperoxygenated - Incorrect. The oxygen levels are normal, ruling out hyperoxygenation.