Question

Case Scenario: Your patient, a 70-year-old male recently admitted to the hospital, has a pCO₂ of 64, pO₂ of 69, and pH of 7.4. He is short of breath and has rattles in the bases of both lungs.

1. Question: Give an admitting diagnosis based on blood gases. Defend your answer using specific facts, data, and other information drawn from the textbook and at least one other supplemental source.

Answer 1

Based on blood gases findings diagnosis is Respiratory Acidosis, Acute respiratory failure.

PO2 level markedly decrease less than 95%.

PCO2 is considerably higher than normal more than 45%

These two values suggest impairment in gases exchange. It may be due to pneumonia. In pneumonia, consolidation accumulates in the alveoli and obstruct bronchi and bronchiols leads to impaired gas exchange. This results decrease in PO2. Due to obstruction CO2 retain in the alveoli and increase in blood.

pH is 7.4.still it is in upper limit. In acute failure, it take time to change in pH. It suggests acute failure.

Presence of rattles in the base of the lungs present in pneumonia. Rattles are fine sounds.

Pneumonia or pneumonitis is a condition in which inflammation of the lung parenchyma occur. Alveoli is filled with infected particles, mucus, microorganisms. This is called as consolidation. Thickened consolidated materials obstruct the airway and alveoli leads to impaired gases exchange.