Asthma exacerbation, when to prescribe O2 and to order arterial blood gas analysis?



Last update: Tuesday, 14 Jan 2020 at 11:44

A 16-year-old boy was admitted at the emergency room with asthma exacerbation. He presented RR: 28 bpm, BP: 145x90mmHg, using accessory muscles of respiration, no cyanosis, anxious, slightly agitated, speaking complete sentences, with slight dizziness. Pulmonary auscultation revealed diffuse inspiratory and expiratory wheezing. The patient was monitored and his pulse oximetry (sea level) and heart rate are shown in the figure below:

Quiz46

Source: www.xlung.net

What findings would be expected in his arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis?

a) Normal values

b) Hypoxemia and respiratory acidosis

c) Hypoxemia and respiratory alkalosis

d) Metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis



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