Arterial Blood Gases

Question 1

What is a normal PaO2?

Answer 1

80-100

Question 2

What is a right shift?

Answer 2

Caused by acidosis and fever where it is very difficult to load oxygen onto Hgb in the lungs. So a slight drop in PaO2 will cause a quick drop in SaO2

Question 3

What is the relationship between PaO2 and SaO2?

Answer 3

Normal PaO2 of 80-100 generates enough partial pressure to load Hgb with oxygen in the lungs for an SaO2 of 92-100%

Question 4

How can right shift be treated?

Answer 4

Will require higher PaO2 to get the same of amount of oxygen loaded onto Hgb so simply requires a higher FiO2 to get the same SaO2 so this is easier to fix

Question 5

What is a left shift?

Answer 5

Caused by alkalosis and hypothermia, it is easy to load O2 onto Hgb at lungs at a low PaO2 level, but very difficult to unload at the tissues from arterial blood because the Hgb holds tightly to the O2

Question 6

What are normal pH levels?

Answer 6

7.35-7.45

Question 7

What are normal PaCO2 levels?

Answer 7

35-45

Question 8

What are normal HCO3 levels?

Answer 8

22-26

Question 9

What are normal PaO2 levels?

Answer 9

80-100

Question 10

What are causes of respiratory acidosis?

Answer 10

caused by hypoventilation so patient will have COPD, chest trauma, PE

Question 11

What are causes of respiratory alkalosis?

Answer 11

Caused by hyperventilation so patient will have tachypnea, early stages of PE, numbness/tingling

Question 12

How can the nurse help treat a patient with hyperventilation?

Answer 12

Slow down respirations

Question 13

What are causes of metabolic acidosis?

Answer 13

renal failure (organ failure), DKA, diarrhea

Question 14

What are causes of metabolic akalosis?

Answer 14

vomiting, overuse of antacids, potassium wasting diuretics