Unit 3 Week 9 Pulmonary Tests and Diagnostic Procedures

Question 1

ABGs are crucial to the assessments of problems related to:

Answer 1

acid-base balance
alveolar ventilation
oxygenation

Question 2

what does a typical ABG report contain?

Answer 2

arterial pH, partial pressures of CO2, O2, oxygen saturation, bicarbonate concentration, and base excess

Question 3

what is the normal value for ABG pH?

Answer 3

7.4
7.35-7.45

Question 4

what is the normal value for ABG PCO2?

Answer 4

40
35-45

Question 5

what is the normal value for ABG PO2?

Answer 5

97
>80

Question 6

what is the normal value for ABG Hco3-?

Answer 6

24
22-28

Question 7

what is the normal value for ABG O2 saturation?

Answer 7

97%
>95%

Question 8

PaCO2 directly reflects adequacy of:

Answer 8

alveolar ventilation

Question 9

what PaCO2 level is considered hyperventilation? hypoventilation? ventilatory failure?

Answer 9

• Hyperventilation—PaCO2 <40 mm Hg
• Hypoventilation—PaCO2 >40 mm Hg
• Ventilatory failure—PaCO2 >50 mm Hg

Question 10

what is normal human blood pH? what is considered acidemia? alkalemia?

Answer 10

normal: 7.4
acidemia: <7.4
alkalemia: >7.4

Question 11

what are the causes of respiratory acidosis?

Answer 11

hypoventilation: over sedation, head trauma, NM disorders, cardiac arrest, chest trauma, COPD, pneumonia

Question 12

what are common symptoms of respiratory acidosis?

Answer 12

tachycardia, confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, minimal if chronic (COPD)

Question 13

what are the causes of respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 13

hyperventilation: anxiety/fear/panic, excessive mechanical ventilation
hypoxemia
CHF
PE

Question 14

what are the common symptoms of respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 14

numbness and tingling of lips and extremities, dizziness, and sinus arrhythmias

Question 15

what are the causes of metabolic acidosis?

Answer 15

increased production of acids: ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis
decreased acid excretion by kidneys: renal failure
loss of alkali: diarrhea

Question 16

what are the common symptoms of metabolic acidosis?

Answer 16

DOE, deep rapid breathing, disorientation, fatigue, weakness

Question 17

what are the causes of metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 17

loss of acid from GI tract or kidney: vomiting or laxative abuse
increased HCO3 reabsorption or generation: excessive use of antacids

Question 18

what are the common symptoms of metabolic alkalosis?

Answer 18

tetany, hypertonic muscles, numbness, asymptomatic

Question 19

If a patient has acidosis/alkalosis with increased PaCO2, what type of acidosis do they likely have?

Answer 19

respiratory acidosis/alkalosis

Question 20

If a patient has acidosis/alkalosis with decreased PaCO2, what type of acidosis do they likely have?

Answer 20

metabolic acidosis/alkalosis

Question 21

How do you tell if ABGs are compensated or non-compensated?

Answer 21

if pH is off, it is non-compensated. If pH is normal = compensated

When PaCO2 and HCO3- are both out of normal range, (high or low) then the body is trying to compensate.

If one (PaCO2 or HCO3-) is normal, and other is out of normal range, either it is recent onset (acute) or the body cannot compensate

Question 22

What are the three stages of hypxemia?

Answer 22

▪ Mild Hypoxemia: PaO2 = 60 – 80 mmHg
▪ Moderate Hypoxia: PaO2 = 40 – 60 mmHg
▪ Severe Hypoxia: PaO2 = <40 mmHg