ABG Interpretation in Clinical Scenarios

Your patient presents to the Emergency Department with acute Asthma Exacerbation. Patient has difficulty breathing and states she was unable to find her albuterol inhaler in order to administer her rescue dose.

ABG Values pH: 7.32, PaCO₂: 52 mmHg, HCO₃⁻: 26 mEq/L.

What is the interpretation?

• Respiratory Acidosis

• Respiratory Alkalosis

• Metabolic Acidosis

• Metabolic Alkalosis

You are working in the pediatric ICU when your patient admitted for a potential bowel obstruction suddenly becomes tachycardic and irritable. The patient has been on continuous nasogastric suctioning for 6 hours. An ABG is ordered:

pH: 7.61, PaCO₂: 38 mmHg, HCO₃⁻: 38 mEq/L.

What is the interpretation?

• Respiratory Acidosis

• Respiratory Alkalosis

• Metabolic Acidosis

• Metabolic Alkalosis

You are an ED nurse assessing a patient who went on a 10 mile run in the middle of July. The patient states she left her water bottle at home but has gone on many long runs without it. The patient was brought in by ambulance after collapsing. Her V/S are T 38.3 (101.1), HR 156 BP 88/56 RR 36. Patient is also noted to have shallow breathing and cyanosis of the lips. An ABG is ordered:

pH: 7.48, HCO₃⁻: 23 mEq/L, PaCO₂: 50 mmHg.

What is the interpretation?

• Respiratory Acidosis

• Respiratory Alkalosis

• Metabolic Acidosis

• Metabolic Alkalosis

21. You are on a medical surgical floor where your patient who was admitted from the nursing home for stage 3 pressure ulcers has a new onset difficulty breathing. You know the patient has a history of COPD and the attending physician did not prescribe the patient his daily inhaled corticosteroid.

pH:7.30, PaCO₂: 55 mmHg, HCO₃⁻: 25 mEq/L

What is the interpretation?

• Respiratory Acidosis

• Respiratory Alkalosis

• Metabolic Acidosis

• Metabolic Alkalosis

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-3

A patient with a history of CKD and potassium replacement therapy is admitted to the telemetry unit for close observation. Interpretation of the ECG shows a peaked p wave followed by a widened QRS complex are noted on the ECG. On assessment, the patient is flushed and diaphoretic. V/S are HR 125, BP 88/54. The provider orders a series of labs including a BMP and an ABG:

pH: 7.31, PaCO₂: 40 mmHg, HCO₃⁻: 18 mEq/L.

What is the interpretation?

• Respiratory Acidosis

• Respiratory Alkalosis

• Metabolic Acidosis

• Metabolic Alkalosis