End
1 :

Hint : Think of conditions that cause poor perfusion and lactic acid buildup.

Correct Answers:

  • A client who has sepsis.


Rationale :

🟦 A client with sepsis is at high risk for metabolic acidosis because severe infection leads to impaired tissue perfusion, which causes cells to shift into anaerobic metabolism.

🟦 Anaerobic metabolism produces lactic acid, resulting in lactic acidosis, one of the most common and serious forms of metabolic acidosis.

🟦 During sepsis, widespread vasodilation and capillary leakage decrease oxygen delivery to tissues, further increasing acid accumulation.

🟦 The body attempts to compensate by increasing respiratory rate to blow off CO₂, but this compensation is limited and eventually fails as sepsis progresses.

🟦 In severe cases, metabolic acidosis contributes to organ dysfunction, particularly affecting the kidneys and cardiovascular system.

🟦 Early recognition of this risk is crucial because untreated metabolic acidosis worsens shock and increases mortality.

🟦 Therefore, clients with sepsis require close acid–base monitoring due to their high risk of developing metabolic acidosis.

❌ Incorrect Answers

A client who has severe pain

❌ Severe pain activates the sympathetic nervous system but does not cause metabolic acidosis under normal circumstances.

❌ Pain may cause hyperventilation, but this would more likely lead to respiratory alkalosis, not metabolic acidosis.

A client with a nasogastric tube to suction

❌ NG suction removes hydrochloric acid, predisposing the patient to metabolic alkalosis, not acidosis.

❌ Loss of stomach acid increases serum bicarbonate, shifting the acid–base balance toward alkalosis.

A client with asthma

❌ Asthma typically leads to respiratory acidosis due to air trapping and CO₂ retention, not metabolic acidosis.

❌ The problem is inadequate ventilation rather than a metabolic disturbance.


Distractor Analysis :

Rationale for Incorrect Options to be Available Soon

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