Question

What imbalance is this?
pH 7.33
PaCO2 67 mm Hg
PaO2 47 mm Hg
HCO3− 37 mEq/L

Answer 1

The patient has respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation, indicated by a low blood pH, elevated PaCO2, and raised bicarbonate levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

The lab results indicate an acid-base imbalance. Specifically, the pH is 7.33 which is below the normal range (7.35-7.45), indicating acidosis. The PaCO2 is 67 mm Hg, which is above the normal range for both males (35-48 mm Hg) and females (32-45 mm Hg), suggesting a respiratory cause for the acidosis. The HCO3- level is 37 mEq/L, which is higher than the normal range (22-29 mM), indicating a compensatory mechanism to counteract the acidosis. In summary, this patient has respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation.