Case study Acid base balance & ABG’s
Case study 1
Jeri is a 22-year-old female who has been on a 3-day party binge. Her friends bring her to the ED after
being unable to awaken her.Assessment reveals shallow respirations with a rate of 8/min, diminished
breath sounds, and decreased level of consciousness
1. What type of acid-base imbalance would you expect Jeri to have?
2. What is causing it?
3. What type of compensation would you expect or not expect? Explain.
4. What would Jeri's ABGs look like?
5. What is the treatment?
Case study Acid base balance & ABG’s
Case Study 2
Mayna is an 18-year-old female who presents to the ED after witnessing an assault. She is hysterical and
in severe emotional distress. Her BP is 140/96, heart rate 104, respiratory rate 38, and oxygen saturation
96%. Lung sounds are clear.
1. What type of acid-base imbalance would you expect Mayna to have?
2. What is causing it?
3. What type of compensation would you expect or not expect? Explain
4. What do Mayna's ABGs look like?
5. What is the treatment?
Case study Acid base balance & ABG’s
Case study 3
Alan is a 17-year-old male who comes to the clinic saying he feels “bad,” with fatigue, constant thirst,
and frequent urination. Focused assessment reveals rapid deep respirations (rate 28) with a fruity
breath odor. A capillary blood glucose is 484 mg/dL
1. What type of acid-base imbalance would you expect Alan to have?
2. What is causing it?
3. What type of compensation would you expect or not expect? Explain.
4. What will Alan's ABGs look like?
5. What is the treatment?
Case study Acid base balance & ABG’s
Case Study 4
Anthony is a 54-year-old male with a history of nausea and vomiting for the past week. He has been selfmedicating himself with baking soda to control his abdominal discomfort
1. What type of acid-base imbalance would you expect Alan to have?
2. What is causing it?
3. What type of compensation would you expect or not expect? Explain.
4. What will Alan's ABGs look like?
5. What is the treatment?