pCO2 < 35
Client is blow off Co2
Hyperventilating
Fever
Hypoxia
Anxiety
Pain
Hysteria
Overventilation
Lightheadedness
Anxiety
Fast, deep breathing
Tx cause
Sedation
breathing exercises
Change ventilator settings
A client with severe pain/anxiety is breathing fast:
pH 7.48
pCO2 31
HCO3- 24
Respiratory Alkalosis
A mechanically ventilated client is now breathing over the ventilator settings:
pH 7.50
pCO2 28
HCO3- 25
Respiratory Alkalosis
A client with sepsis is breathing fast at 30 breaths/minute:
pH 7.32
pCO2 31
HCO3- 18.
Tricky. This is NOT respiratory alkalosis. pCO2 is low, but pH is low too. This is a metabolic acidosis with partially respiratory compensation. The client is trying to blow off acid in order to normalize pH
