44 - Acute Pulmonary Failure and Arterial Blood Gas

Question 1

When a patient has a low respiratory rate and high pCO2, what can we assume?

Answer 1

The patient has respiratory acidosis

• The low respiratory rate prevents the patient from blowing off enough CO2 (acid)
• The high CO2 causes a rise in pH

Question 2

How can you determine whether or not the patient is in acute or chronic respiratory acidosis?

Answer 2

Look at the bicarb…

• If the bicarb is high, the body has had a chance to compensate
• If the bicarb is low, the body has not had a chance to compensate

Question 3

What is a normal bicarb level?

Answer 3

25

Question 4

What is a high bicarb level?

Answer 4

35

Question 5

Give an example of CHRONIC respiratory acidosis

Answer 5

Bicarb = 35
pH = 7.35

Question 6

What is an appropriate mode of oxygenation?

Answer 6

Anything except a simple mask

DO NOT USE A SIMPLE MASK

Question 7

What type of mask should you never use?

Answer 7

Simple mask

Question 8

When you are seeing a patient who is dyspneic, what is the first thing to assess?

Answer 8

Does the patient need an airway?

FIRST assess the airway before thinking about anything else

Remember… ABCs - airway is first