A patient has been exposed to smoke during a house fire. An ABG result shows a normal PaO₂. How should the patient's PaO₂ value be interpreted? A) The PaO₂ is being falsely elevated by the carbon monoxide. B) The PaO₂ is being falsely decreased by the carbon monoxide. C) The PaO₂ is accurate. D) The PaO₂ is a false measurement because the presence of carbon monoxide makes the analyzer unable to determine the PaO₂.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The PaO₂ value is accurate because it measures the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood, which is not affected by carbon monoxide. However, carbon monoxide can affect the oxygen content and saturation, leading to misleading normal PaO₂ despite impaired oxygen delivery.

A Patient Has Been Exposed to Smoke During a House