A patient with an acute exacerbation of COPD has the following ABG analysis: pH 7.32, PaO₂ 58 mm Hg, PaCO₂ 55 mm Hg, and SaO₂ 86%. The nurse recognizes these values as evidence of

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The elevated PaCO₂ and low pH indicate respiratory acidosis. The patient is hypoxemic and hypercapnic, but the pH indicates acidosis, not a normal acid-base balance.

A Patient with an Acute Exacerbation of COPD Has the Following