Which of the following measures should be used in assessing the adequacy of a patient's alveolar ventilation?
1) PaO₂
2) Arterial pH
3) PaCO₂
4) HCO₃^-

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The adequacy of a patient's alveolar ventilation is best assessed by measures related to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) in the blood, as this is the primary stimulus for respiratory drive. Arterial pH would reflect changes in PCO2 levels and is therefore a useful measure. The two options that mention PCO2 levels are 2) arterial pH and 3) PaCO2, so choices 2 and 3 are the best options for assessing the adequacy of a patient's alveolar ventilation. Option 1 represents an incorrect code. Option 4 includes an incorrect term (HCO3) and a formatting error (mixing superscript and subscript symbols).

Which of the Following Measures Should Be Used in Assessing