Question

Acid-Base Imbalance Case Study Rau Kuohui, a 50-year-old female, was shot in the right side of her chest. She is currently in the progressive care unit. Her arterial blood gases are as follows: PH 7.30 Paoz 88 mmHg Paco 50 mmHg Bicarbonate 26 mEq/L Lactate 5 mg/dL 1. Does Ms. Kuohui have an acid-base imbalance? If so, what type of imbalance? 2. What likely caused Ms. Kuohul to have this condition? Ms. Kuohul's condition continues to deteriorate. 3. What actions should be taken to restore Ms. Kuohul's acid-base balance? 4. With which member of the interprofessional health care team should the nurse collaborate to address Ms. Kuohul's gas exchange needs?

Answer 1

1. Yes, Ms. Kuohul has an acid-base imbalance. She has Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis.

Normal Paco2 is 4.7 - 6.0 K Pa and normal lactate  is 0.6 - 2.0 mmol / L. Here Ms. Kuohul has Paco2 of 50 mmHg which is 6.6 K Pa and Lactate of 5 mg / dL which is 0.5 mmol / L

A pH of 7.30 (normal - 7.35 - 7.45) indicates Acidosis and decreased lactate level shows decreased oxygen.

So, increased Paco2 and normal bicarbonate level indicate Uncompensated Respiratory Acidosis.

2. If gunshots on the chest, Respiratory muscle volume and lung volumes get decreased. So hypoventilation caused Co2 to accumulate and lung will be at a loss to throw out co2, leading to respiratory acidosis.