Arterial blood gas (ABG) findings that are common during an asthma attack include all the following, EXCEPT:
Decreased HCO3
Increased PaO2
Increased PH
Decreased PaCO2
The Correct Answer is B
A. Decreased HCO₃: During an acute asthma attack, HCO₃ (bicarbonate) levels may remain normal or slightly decrease if respiratory alkalosis occurs due to hyperventilation. Over time, metabolic compensation can alter HCO₃, making minor decreases possible in prolonged attacks.
B. Increased PaO₂: During an asthma exacerbation, hypoxemia is more common because airway obstruction limits oxygen exchange. PaO₂ typically decreases rather than increases, making elevated arterial oxygen unusual and not expected in typical ABG findings during an asthma attack.
C. Increased pH: Early in an asthma attack, hyperventilation reduces CO₂ levels, leading to respiratory alkalosis and a transient increase in blood pH. This is a common finding before the attack progresses or CO₂ retention occurs in severe cases.
D. Decreased PaCO₂: Hyperventilation during the early stages of an asthma attack causes a drop in PaCO₂ (hypocapnia). This reflects rapid breathing as the body attempts to compensate for impaired gas exchange due to bronchoconstriction.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Supporting the alveoli: Alveoli are supported by elastic fibers in the lung parenchyma, not by smooth muscle. Their primary function is gas exchange, and structural support is provided by connective tissue, not the muscular walls of bronchioles.
B. Facilitating gas exchange: Gas exchange occurs across the alveolar-capillary membrane, not within the bronchioles. While bronchioles conduct air to the alveoli, smooth muscle does not directly participate in oxygen or carbon dioxide diffusion.
C. Altering diameter and resistance of airflow: Smooth muscle in the walls of bronchioles contracts or relaxes to regulate airway diameter, directly affecting airflow resistance. Bronchoconstriction decreases airflow, while bronchodilation increases airflow, allowing the respiratory system to respond to physiological demands, such as exercise or allergic reactions.
D. Preventing the collapse of airways: Cartilage, present in larger bronchi, provides structural rigidity to prevent airway collapse. Bronchioles lack cartilage; smooth muscle helps regulate airflow but does not fully prevent collapse under negative pressure.
E. Producing mucus for the mucociliary escalator: Mucus is secreted by goblet cells and submucosal glands, not by smooth muscle. The smooth muscle primarily regulates airway caliber rather than producing secretions.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Correct answer: False
Boyle’s Law describes the inverse relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at a constant temperature. Specifically, as the volume of a gas decreases, the pressure increases proportionally, and conversely, as the volume increases, the pressure decreases. This principle is fundamental in understanding pulmonary mechanics, such as how lung volume changes during inspiration and expiration alter intrapulmonary pressure to facilitate airflow. A direct correlation between pressure and volume is incorrect because in Boyle’s Law, the two variables move in opposite directions, not together. Misunderstanding this law can lead to errors in explaining respiratory physiology or mechanical ventilation dynamics.
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