A client who is anxious about an impending surgery is at risk for which condition?

A client who is anxious about an impending surgery is at risk for which condition?

• A. Respiratory acidosis
• B. Respiratory alkalosis
• C. Metabolic acidosis
• D. Metabolic alkalosis

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is respiratory alkalosis, which can occur when a patient is anxious or experiences hyperventilation. When a person is anxious, their respiratory rate often increases, leading to an excess loss of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. This decrease in CO2 levels can raise the blood’s pH, resulting in respiratory alkalosis. In the context of a client preparing for surgery, anxiety about the procedure could lead to rapid breathing and a heightened state of tension. This physiological response can disrupt the balance of gases in the blood, causing the pH to rise due to elevated oxygen levels and decreased carbon dioxide levels. Understanding this physiological response is important for healthcare providers, as identifying and managing anxiety can help prevent complications related to respiratory alkalosis, ensuring better outcomes during surgery. Other options, such as metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis, are linked to different conditions that do not typically arise solely from anxiety or hyperventilation.

The correct answer is respiratory alkalosis, which can occur when a patient is anxious or experiences hyperventilation. When a person is anxious, their respiratory rate often increases, leading to an excess loss of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. This decrease in CO2 levels can raise the blood’s pH, resulting in respiratory alkalosis.

In the context of a client preparing for surgery, anxiety about the procedure could lead to rapid breathing and a heightened state of tension. This physiological response can disrupt the balance of gases in the blood, causing the pH to rise due to elevated oxygen levels and decreased carbon dioxide levels.

Understanding this physiological response is important for healthcare providers, as identifying and managing anxiety can help prevent complications related to respiratory alkalosis, ensuring better outcomes during surgery. Other options, such as metabolic acidosis and metabolic alkalosis, are linked to different conditions that do not typically arise solely from anxiety or hyperventilation.