A nurse is evaluating a -year-old client admitted for a severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The client is currently prescribed oxygen at L/min via nasal cannula. During the latest assessment, the nurse discovers that the client is extremely lethargic, difficult to arouse, and breathing at a shallow rate of breaths/min. The results of a stat arterial blood gas (ABG) draw are as follows:
* pH:
* PaCO : mm Hg
* PaO : mm Hg
* HCO : mEq/L
To mitigate the risk of impending physiological decompensation, which of the following is the priority nursing action?
- AIncrease the supplemental oxygen flow to L/min via a non-rebreather mask to correct the hypoxemia
- BDocument the findings and continue routine monitoring, as this blood gas pattern is an expected baseline in chronic lung disease
- Activate the rapid response team and prepare the client for immediate positive pressure ventilationCevap
- DPlace the client in a supine position to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of bilateral diaphragmatic excursion
Cevap
The correct action is to activate the rapid response team and prepare the client for immediate positive pressure ventilation to address the acute respiratory failure.
The correct answer requires prioritizing airway and ventilation. The client is exhibiting signs of acute, uncompensated respiratory acidosis (pH , elevated PaCO of mm Hg) superimposed on chronic COPD (indicated by the elevated HCO of mEq/L). The clinical signs of lethargy and severe bradypnea ( breaths/min) indicate hypercapnic encephalopathy and impending respiratory failure. The priority is to establish effective ventilation, which requires rapid response team activation and mechanical support (such as BiPAP or intubation) to clear the excess carbon dioxide.
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Anahtar Kavram
Recognition and Management of Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure in COPD