Question

In: Anatomy and Physiology

A 65 year old Caucasian female with a PMHx of COPD (Emphysema) presents to the emergency...

A 65 year old Caucasian female with a PMHx of COPD (Emphysema) presents to the emergency room with dyspnea. A BMP and an ABG are ordered with the following relevant values resulting:

pH: 7.30
Bicarbonate: 30

How do you proceed with this patient?

Group of answer choices

A, Treat for Metabolic Alkalosis

B. Place on O2 therapy

C. Treat for Respiratory Alkalosis

D. Discharge Home

Solutions

Expert Solution

normal pH is 7.35 - 7.45. pH 7.30 is acidosis.

normal bicarbonate is 22-28 mEq. here its 30, so she is having metabolic alkalosis.

even in the presence of metabolic alkalosis, her blood pH is showing acidosis because of the respiratory acidosis due to the COPD.

so, the correct answer will be to treat her respiratory acidosis which is caused by her COPD.

so no option here is correct.

A- is wrong because her metabolic alkalosis is caused by the compensatory mechanisms to correct the respiratory acidosis. without correcting the respiratory acidosis, her ABG won't improve.

B- is wrong because giving excess oxygen to COPD patients will worsen respiratory acidosis due to the production and retention of excess carbon dioxide in the body.

c- would have been correct if the option were to treat her respiratory acidosis.

d- sending a patient home with severe dyspnea would result in worsening of her symptoms and lead to carbon dioxide narcosis, coma and death.

Sydney Mullin answered 1 year ago
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