A patient has a lactate level of 8 mmol/L. What should this finding indicate to the nurse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. Lactate level does not indicate carbon dioxide exchange.
2. Lactate level does not indicate the underuse of oxygen.
3. Lactate level does not indicate glucose metabolism.
4. When cells become oxygen deprived, anaerobic metabolism of glucose occurs, causing lactate formation instead of carbon dioxide and water. Elevated levels of lactate are a reliable indicator of tissue hypoxia.

A Patient Has a Lactate Level of 8 Mmol/L