In the seriously ill or injured child, arterial lactate level can __________ as a result of tissue hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism.

Prepare for the Pediatric Cardiac Arrest Test using flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question is accompanied by helpful hints and detailed explanations to ensure you're ready for the exam!

Multiple Choice

In the seriously ill or injured child, arterial lactate level can __________ as a result of tissue hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism.

Explanation:
When tissue oxygen delivery is insufficient, cells switch to anaerobic metabolism to keep producing energy. This process produces lactate as a byproduct, so arterial lactate levels rise in seriously ill or injured children with tissue hypoxia. The rising lactate reflects the degree of oxygen debt and hypoperfusion, and it tends to remain elevated or increase until perfusion improves and lactate is cleared by the liver and kidneys. Therefore, the completed statement should indicate an increase in lactate.

When tissue oxygen delivery is insufficient, cells switch to anaerobic metabolism to keep producing energy. This process produces lactate as a byproduct, so arterial lactate levels rise in seriously ill or injured children with tissue hypoxia. The rising lactate reflects the degree of oxygen debt and hypoperfusion, and it tends to remain elevated or increase until perfusion improves and lactate is cleared by the liver and kidneys. Therefore, the completed statement should indicate an increase in lactate.

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