Deck 5: Blood Gas Assessment

Question 1

Common causes of metabolic acidosis include:
1) diabetic ketoacidosis.
2) shallow breathing from a sedative overdose.
3) lactic acidosis.
4) renal failure.

A)1
B)2, 3
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 3, 4

Answer 1

1, 3, 4

Question 2

An anion gap of 17 would indicate:

A) metabolic acidosis.
B) respiratory alkalosis.
C) respiratory acidosis.
D) metabolic alkalosis.

Answer 2

metabolic acidosis.

Question 3

What causes stimulation of the peripheral chemoreceptors to increase the ventilatory rate?

A) Pain or anxiety
B) PaCO₂ of about 40 mm Hg
C) PaO₂ of about 60 mm Hg or less
D) Venous pH of 7.30 to 7.40

Answer 3

PaO₂ of about 60 mm Hg or less

Question 4

Which of the following would be a normal person's venous oxygen pressure (PaO₂)?

A) 35 to 45 mm Hg
B) 45 to 80 mm Hg
C) 80 to 100 mm Hg
D) 100 to 120 mm Hg

Question 5

A respiratory therapist is questioning the accuracy of the ABG results obtained on a patient in the ICU. The results show a pH and PaO₂ that seem unreasonably high, while the PaCO₂ seems unreasonably low. Which of the following would most likely cause these erroneous results?

A) A venous sample was obtained.
B) There was excessive heparin in the blood gas syringe.
C) The sample was excessively delayed in analysis.
D) There was an air bubble in the sample.

Question 6

Which of the following will likely be seen in the arterial blood gas values of a patient with acute ventilatory failure?
1) Acidic pH
2) Near-normal bicarbonate level
3) Alkaline pH
4) High carbon dioxide level

A)1, 4
B)2, 3
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 4

Question 7

The respiratory therapist is assessing a patient with end-stage COPD who was admitted to the medical ward for an exacerbation of COPD due to increasing sputum purulence. The therapist notes the following ABG results in the patient's electronic medical record: pH 7.52, PaCO₂ 51; HCO₃ 40; PaO₂ 46. Which of the following is the best interpretation of these ABG results?

A) Chronic ventilatory failure with hypoxemia
B) Acute ventilatory failure with hypoxemia
C) Partially compensated metabolic alkalosis with hypoxemia
D) Acute alveolar hyperventilation superimposed on chronic ventilatory failure

Question 8

Calculate the anion gap using the following data:
Na⁺: 140 mEq/L
K⁺ 4.1 mEq/L
Cl^-: 105 mEq/L
HCO₃^-: 24 mEq/L

A) 31 mEq/L.
B) 21 mEq/L.
C) 11 mEq/L.
D) More information is needed to calculate.

Question 9

A patient has had chronic ventilatory failure for several years. What is the primary factor that determines her breathing pattern?

A) Muscle efficiency
B) Ventilatory efficiency
C) Heart function
D) Work efficiency

Question 10

The most common cause of acute alveolar hyperventilation is:

A) hypoxemia.
B) metabolic alkalosis.
C) tachycardia.
D) supplemental oxygen administration.

Question 11

Which of the following would be found in a stable patient with long-standing obstructive lung disease?

A) Low bicarbonate level and low carbon dioxide level
B) Low bicarbonate level and high carbon dioxide level
C) High bicarbonate level and low carbon dioxide level
D) High bicarbonate level and high carbon dioxide level

Question 12

Which of the following would be a normal person's arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO₂)?

A) 25 to 35 mm Hg
B) 35 to 45 mm Hg
C) 45 to 60 mm Hg
D) 60 to 80 mm Hg

Question 13

Common causes of metabolic alkalosis include:
1) renal failure.
2) vomiting.
3) excessive sodium bicarbonate administration.
4) gastric suctioning.

A)1, 3
B)2, 4
C)2, 3, 4
D)1, 2, 3

Question 14

Mechanical ventilation is indicated for which of the following ABG results?

A) pH 7.56; PaCO₂ 27; HCO₃ 23; PaO₂ 63
B) pH 7.21; PaCO₂ 68; HCO₃ 26; PaO₂ 51
C) pH 7.36; PaCO₂ 79; HCO₃ 43; PaO₂ 63
D) pH 7.52; PaCO₂ 51; HCO₃ 40; PaO₂ 46