Systemic Physiology Davenports Questions
1. A 15-year-old with cystic fibrosis (very thick, sticky mucus builds up in the lungs) complains of an increased cough productive of green sputum over the last week. They also complain of being increasingly short of breath, and they are noticeably wheezing on physical examination. Urinalysis reveals increased H+ content in their urine.
- What would you predict the patient’s acid-base status to be (acidotic or alkalotic)?
- What is the origin (respiratory or metabolic) of their acid-base state?
- How does the patient’s condition lead to their acid-base disturbance? Be as specific as you can about the source of the disturbance.
- Is the patient compensating for the disturbance? If so, how?
- Choose the point that corresponds best on the Davenport diagram.
2. A 24-year-old college student is complaining of a week-long history of bloody-watery diarrhea. You notice their breathing seems rather quick, but in all other respects, they appear healthy.
- What would you predict the patient’s acid-base status to be?
- What is the origin of their acid-base state?
- How does the patient’s condition lead to their acid-base disturbance? Be as specific as you can about the source of the disturbance.
- Is the patient compensating for the disturbance? If so, how?
- Choose the point that corresponds best on the Davenport diagram.
3. A 27-year-old has been sick with the flu for the past week, vomiting several times every day. They are having a difficult time keeping solids and liquids down, and have become severely dehydrated. After fainting at work, they were taken to a local clinic, where an IV was placed to help rehydrate them. Their coworkers reported they were worried about shallow respiration as they revived the individual from the faint.
- What would you predict the patient’s acid-base status to be?
- What is the origin of their acid-base state?
- How does the patient’s condition lead to their acid-base disturbance? Be as specific as you can about the source of the disturbance.
