A client is receiving care in the urgent care clinic after experiencing severe, watery diarrhea for the past three days. Based on the significant loss of lower gastrointestinal fluids, which acid-base imbalance should the nurse anticipate?
- Metabolic acidosisCevap
- BMetabolic alkalosis
- CRespiratory acidosis
- DRespiratory alkalosis
Cevap
Metabolic acidosis
The correct answer accurately reflects that severe diarrhea removes large quantities of bicarbonate from the body. Because bicarbonate is a primary base, its excessive loss causes the blood to become more acidic, resulting in metabolic acidosis.
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Anahtar Kavram
Lower gastrointestinal fluids are rich in bicarbonate. Excessive loss of these fluids through severe diarrhea leads to base depletion and subsequent metabolic acidosis.