A client comes to the emergency department with status asthmaticus. His respiratory rate is 48 breaths/minute, and he is wheezin
g. An arterial blood gas analysis reveals a pH of 7.52, a partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) of 30 mm Hg, PaO2 of 70 mm Hg, and bicarbonate (HCO3??') of 26 mEq/L. What disorder is indicated by these findings?
A client with asthma can hyperventilate (excess of O2). This oxygen excess can lead also to a lack of carbon dioxide (CO2) (acid substance) which can causes alkalosis (increasing the pH values in blood and body).
In this medical condition (respiratory alkalosis), the bicarbonate (HCO3-) hosted in the kidneys has a late response, so the HCO3- level in the client remains normal.
The PaCO2 (partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide) is low in comparison with normal values so that indicates loss of CO2 in the respiratory system.
