A patient with an opiate drug overdose is unconscious and exhibits the following blood gas re-sults breathing room air: pH = 7.19; PCO2 = 89; HCO3– = 27; PO2 = 48. Which of the following best describes this patient's condition?
a. Chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure
b. Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure
c. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
d. Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure
ANS: D
Hypercapnic respiratory failure ("pump failure," "ventilatory failure") is characterized by an ele-vated PaCO2, creating an uncompensated respiratory acidosis (whether acute or acute-on-chronic).
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Which of the following terms is used to denote crackling or rattling sounds occurring in respiratory cycle?
a. Rales b. Wheezing c. Stridor d. Stertorous
A factory worker was splashed in the eyes with a strong acid chemical. He complains of intense pain and blurred vision. If you do not have sterile saline or water, you should:
A. irrigate both eyes continuously for 20 minutes with plain water. B. neutralize the acid chemical in his eye with an alkaline chemical. C. mix baking soda with water and irrigate his eyes with the solution. D. flush both eyes with an alcohol-based solution and transport.