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%.What does the nurse recognize these values as evidence of?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pH is low (acidic), and the PaCO2 is high (indicative of respiratory acidosis), which are consistent with an acute exacerbation of COPD. The SaO2 value indicates hypoxemia, which is also common in COPD exacerbations.

A Patient with an Acute Exacerbation of COPD Has the Following