A patient with severe kyphoscoliosis and chronic ventilatory failure with hypoxemia may have:
1) increased PaCO₂.
2) increased hematocrit.
3) normal pH.
4) increased pH.

Question

A patient with severe kyphoscoliosis and chronic ventilatory failure with hypoxemia may have: 1) increased PaCO₂. 2) increased hematocrit. 3) normal pH. 4) increased pH.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1) Patients with chronic ventilatory failure often have increased PaCO2 due to hypoventilation. 2) Increased hematocrit can occur as a compensatory mechanism to chronic hypoxemia, enhancing oxygen carrying capacity. 3) The pH may remain normal due to renal compensation (increased bicarbonate reabsorption) for the respiratory acidosis caused by hypoventilation.

A Patient with Severe Kyphoscoliosis and Chronic Ventilatory Failure with Hypoxemia