A 68-year-old client with a history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is admitted for an acute exacerbation. The nurse notes that the client has become increasingly lethargic over the past hour. The most recent arterial blood gas (ABG) results reveal a pH of 7.26, a of 68 mm Hg, and an of 25 mEq/L. To minimize the risk of respiratory arrest, which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
- AAdminister intravenous sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the underlying metabolic acidosis.
- BPosition the client flat in a supine position to ensure an unobstructed upper airway.
- Prepare to initiate noninvasive positive pressure ventilation to improve alveolar clearance of carbon dioxide.Cevap
- DApply a non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min of oxygen to rapidly resolve the client's tissue hypoxia.
Cevap
The nurse should prepare to initiate noninvasive positive pressure ventilation to improve alveolar clearance of carbon dioxide.
The client's ABG reveals uncompensated respiratory acidosis (pH 7.26, 68 mm Hg). The increasing lethargy is a sign of carbon dioxide narcosis, indicating impending respiratory failure. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is the priority intervention because it directly improves alveolar ventilation, allowing the client to exhale retained and correct the severe acid-base imbalance.
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Anahtar Kavram
In clients with severe COPD, acute retention of carbon dioxide leads to respiratory acidosis and altered mental status (narcosis). The priority risk reduction intervention is to improve ventilation to facilitate the removal of carbon dioxide.