Answer :
Final answer:
A patient on a ventilator with excessive minute volume is at risk for respiratory alkalosis, which occurs due to excessive exhalation of CO2, causing an increase in blood pH.
Explanation:
A patient on a ventilator subjected to excessive minute volume is at risk for respiratory alkalosis. This is because excessive ventilation results in increased exhalation of carbon dioxide (CO2), leading to a decrease in the level of carbonic acid in the blood, hence increasing the blood pH. Conditions such as hyperventilation can lead to this state.
It is crucial to understand that during respiratory alkalosis, the primary disturbance is due to a deficiency of CO2 in the blood, causing the blood to be overly alkaline. This can occur when too much CO2 is exhaled, typically through increased respiratory rate. On the contrary, respiratory acidosis occurs when there is an excess of CO2 leading to an overabundance of carbonic acid in the blood, making it more acidic.
