4 Clinical Manifestations and Treatment Priorities Online Quiz Questions

True or false: When a patient is clinically unstable, treat the instability before focusing on the ABG label.

A patient has an abnormal ABG and appears unwell. Which approach best reflects the initial bedside assessment?

A patient with suspected ketoacidosis has pH 7.12, PaCO₂ 18 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 6 mEq/L. Winter’s formula predicts a PaCO₂ of about $17 \pm 2\,\text{mmHg}$. How should the measured PaCO₂ be interpreted?

During treatment of suspected DKA, which actions are appropriate priorities? Select all that apply.

True or false: In a patient with COPD and chronic CO₂ retention, elevated bicarbonate is not a reason to dismiss new drowsiness and increased work of breathing.

A patient with COPD becomes drowsy, has increased work of breathing, and has pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 72 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 31 mEq/L. A previous ABG showed a higher pH and PaCO₂ near 60 mmHg. What is the best concise acid–base diagnosis?

A patient at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure is hypoxemic while blood gases are being assessed. Which oxygen approach is supported?

A postoperative patient develops sudden rapid breathing, pleuritic chest pain, and low oxygen saturation. Which actions are appropriate? Select all that apply.

When interpreting an ABG, what should take priority over the laboratory label if the patient is deteriorating?

An adult with suspected DKA has pH 7.12. Which statement about bicarbonate treatment best matches the described treatment priorities?

An ABG has a near-normal pH. Which conclusion is justified when interpreting the acid–base pattern?

A clinician has interpreted the pH and identified the primary acid–base disorder. What additional assessment principle should still be applied?

After several days of vomiting, a patient has weakness, palpitations, potassium of 2.7 mEq/L, and an abnormal ECG. Which priority best addresses the immediate risk?

A patient with diabetes is vomiting and dehydrated, with deep rapid breathing. The ABG shows $mathrm{pH}=7.12$, $mathrm{PaCO_2}=18\,\text{mmHg}$, and $mathrm{HCO_3^-}=6\,\text{mEq/L}$. Which interpretation best fits the primary acid–base pattern?

A patient with COPD becomes drowsy and uses accessory muscles to breathe. The current ABG shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 72 mmHg, and HCO₃⁻ 31 mEq/L; a previous ABG had a higher pH and PaCO₂ near 60 mmHg. What is the primary acid–base interpretation?

For metabolic acidosis with $\mathrm{HCO_3^-}=6\,\text{mEq/L}$, use Winter’s formula, $\mathrm{PaCO_2}=1.5\times\mathrm{HCO_3^-}+8$, to calculate the central predicted $\mathrm{PaCO_2}$. Round to the nearest whole number and answer in mmHg.

True or false: In a patient with suspected diabetic ketoacidosis, a high serum potassium level rules out total-body potassium depletion.

A patient with suspected diabetic ketoacidosis has a serum potassium of 5.6 mEq/L. Explain what this result does—and does not—tell you about the patient's total-body potassium stores.