pata

I am no expert, so read at own risk, but I would not wait and recheck gases in a bit: *Patient is on a vent, so while trying to compensate for respiratory alkalosis (by secreting HCO3) which which is being iatrogenically caused, the patient will eventually be unable to keep up (unless vent settings are adjusted) *ph7.38 is normal because so far patient able to compensate by secreting HCO3 sufficiently. That will burn out soon. *The PCO2 is something which vent can adjust - right now, the patient is "blowing off" all of his/her CO2 causing the alkalosis (pH normal because compensating thus far). -Most often, this occurs when patients are hyperventilating, like in asthmatics, but in this cause (i believe) it is because the tidal volume is quite large (1000ml/breath), and the rate is reasonable (10) -Unless the patient is shaquille oneils size, it is probably excessive. By decreasing the tidal volume (usually 5 -10cc/kg or about 500-700ml for average person), less CO2 will be blown off, and the alkalosis will improve let us know how "the pt" does