The respiratory care practitioner is called to the medical intensive care unit to evaluate a pneumonia patient for impending ventilatory failure.Arterial blood gases (ABGs)are drawn and the results are as follows: PaO₂ 49 mmHg,PaCO₂ 58 mmHg,pH 7.24,HCO₃ 23 mEq/L,FIO₂ 0.6.What do the patient's ABGs indicate?

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The patient has impending ventilatory failure.Arterial blood gas analysis is also used to identify impending ventilatory failure.The pH,PaCO₂,and PaO₂ are measured and compared with the patient's baseline values to determine impending ventilatory failure.A pH of less than 7.25,a PaCO₂ greater than 55 mm Hg (except in chronic hypercapnia),and a PaO₂ of less than 50 mm Hg on an FIO₂ (fraction of inspired oxygen)greater than 0.5 are indicative of impending failure.It is important to trend results of arterial blood gas analysis against the patient's normal values.

The Respiratory Care Practitioner Is Called to the Medical Intensive