A 53-Year-Old,80-Kg Patient Is Admitted to the Cardiac Surgical Intensive

A 53-year-old,80-kg patient is admitted to the cardiac surgical intensive care unit after cardiac surgery.Four hours after admission to the surgical intensive care unit at 4 PM,the patient has stable vital signs and normal arterial blood gases (ABGs) ,and is placed on a T-piece for ventilatory weaning.During the nurse's 7 PM (1900) assessment,the patient is restless,heart rate has increased to 110 beats/min,respirations are 36 breaths/min,and blood pressure is 156/98 mm Hg.The cardiac monitor shows sinus tachycardia with 10 premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) per minute.Pulmonary artery pressures are elevated.The nurse suctions the patient and obtains pink,frothy secretions.Loud crackles are audible throughout lung fields.The nurse notifies the physician,who orders an ABG analysis,electrolyte levels,and a portable chest x-ray study.How does the nurse interpret the following blood gas levels?
pH 7.28
PaCO₂ 46 mm Hg
Bicarbonate 22 mEq/L
PaO₂ 58 mm Hg
O₂ saturation 88%

A) Hypoxemia and compensated respiratory alkalosis
B) Hypoxemia and uncompensated respiratory acidosis
C) Normal arterial blood gas levels
D) Normal oxygen level and partially compensated metabolic acidosis