Considered borderline
Assess probe placement and adjust if necessary
Begin oxygen at 2 L/min titrated to SpO2
>95%
Immediate intervention for SpO2 <91%.
Elevate head and encourage Pt. to cough and
breathe deeply
Assess airway and suction as needed
Administer oxygen and titrate to SpO2 >95%
If condition worsens or fails to improve, assist
ventilations manually and prepare to intubate
Administer 100% oxygen, set Pt upright,
encourage coughing and deep breathing and
suction as needed
Assist ventilations manually and prepare
to intubate if condition worsens or fails to
improve
Consider reversal agents for possible druginduced respiratory depression
Basic ECG Interpretation
Acid-Base Imbalance
Imbalance
pH
PCO2
(See back side for lab values)
PO2
HCO3
Compensation
Normal
Kidneys conserve
HCO3; eliminate H+ to
increase pH
Respiratory Acidosis
Uncompensated
Compensated
i
h
Normal
h
Normal
h
h
Respiratory Alkalosis
Uncompensated
Compensated
h
i
Normal
i
Normal
Normal
i
i
i
i
i
i
h
h
h
h
Metabolic Acidosis
Uncompensated
Compensated
i
Normal
Normal
i
Metabolic Alkalosis
Uncompensated
Compensated
h
Normal
Normal
h
IM Injection Sites
•
Considered normal and generally requires no
invasive intervention
Continue routine monitoring of Pt.
Kidneys eliminate
HCO3; conserve H+ to
decrease pH
Hyperventilation to
blow off excess CO2
and conserve HCO3
Hypoventilation to
increase CO2
Kidneys keep H+ and
excrete HCO3