Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Practice Exam

After an arteriogram procedure, a patient exhibits hypotension, oliguria, and confusion. What condition should the nurse suspect?

1. Hypoglycemia

2. Respiratory alkalosis

3. Hyperglycemia

4. Lactic acidosis

The correct answer is: Lactic acidosis

After an arteriogram procedure, the presentation of hypotension, oliguria, and confusion aligns with the signs of lactic acidosis. This condition can occur due to inadequate tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery, potentially resulting from complications during or after the procedure. When there is reduced oxygen supply to tissues, anaerobic metabolism may occur, leading to the production of lactic acid, which then raises lactic acid levels in the bloodstream. Hypotension indicates that the body's perfusion may be compromised, oliguria suggests that the kidneys are not receiving adequate blood flow, and confusion can result from decreased cerebral perfusion and metabolic disturbances. These signs collectively point towards lactic acidosis being a likely condition to suspect following these symptoms. In contrast, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia primarily involve glucose levels and typically manifest with symptoms such as tremors, sweating, or altered mental status, but they would not account equally for the combination of symptoms and signs presented in this scenario. Respiratory alkalosis is related to hyperventilation and would be associated with different symptoms like light-headedness, tingling, or dizziness, rather than the triad of hypotension, oliguria, and confusion observed here. Hence, lactic acidosis is a more plausible