What ABG lab values would you expect to find given the symptoms in the scenario?
Example: Patient has been nauseous & vomiting. What ABG values might you expect, and why?
Metabolic Alkalosis pH: high(alkaline) PaCO2: normal or decreasing HCO3: high Puking rids the body of stomach acid, decreasing the total amount of acid in the body. So acid would decrease, which causes the pH to increase (become more alkaline). Reduced amounts of acid means that more free bicarb will be available, which makes the HCO3 value higher. Since the problem is found in the GI system and HCO3 is the abnormal value, then this imbalance is considered a Metabolic type. The PaCO2 would be normal because there is not a respiratory cause, or it might begin increasing (trying to make the body more acidic) if the respiratory system is starting to compensate.
1) Client is in Acute Renal Failure due to prolonged hypovolemia. What ABG values might you expect, and why?
2) Client reports that he ate some really spicy hot wings last night, and has been having diarrhea ever since. What ABG values might you expect, and why?
3) You realize that the mechanical ventilation for a comatose client has been set at too high a rate. What ABG values might you want to check for, and why?
4) Client has COPD. What ABG values might you want to watch for, and why?
Nicole is a Professional Nursing Tutor with over 15 years experience, and the founder of Your Nursing Tutor. She has a BSN, and an MA in Clinical Psychology. Nicole specializes in providing easy-to-follow, proven study methods (like the Silver Bullet Study System) that transform frustrated nursing students into calm, confident nurses! When she’s not helping students through her Live Tutoring Membership, Nicole loves spending time with her husband, homeschooling their 6 kids, and staring at sunflowers.
thank’s to the author!! it’s so useful 🙂