Your patient has been having a severe asthma attack for the past several hours.Which of the following blood gas findings suggests that the patient may be experiencing respiratory muscle fatigue? A)PaO₂ 55 mmHg B)SaO₂ 78% C)PaCO₂ 44 mmHg D)pH 7.36

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A PaCO2 of 44 mmHg indicates that the patient is retaining carbon dioxide, which can occur due to respiratory muscle fatigue. When respiratory muscles tire, the patient is not able to effectively exhale carbon dioxide, leading to an increase in PaCO2. The other values, while abnormal, do not necessarily indicate respiratory muscle fatigue.

Your Patient Has Been Having a Severe Asthma Attack for the Past