Final answer:
Kim's ABG results indicate metabolic alkalosis due to her bulimia. The normal pCO2 suggests no respiratory cause, while the high HCO3- levels and pH of 7.48 imply compensation due to loss of gastric acid from repeated vomiting.
Step-by-step explanation:
Analysis of Acid-Base Balance in Bulimia
In the case study of Kim, a 38-year-old woman admitted to the hospital for bulimia with arterial blood gas (ABG) results showing a pH of 7.48, pCO2 in the normal range, and total HCO3- higher than normal, her acid-base balance is classified as alkalosis, specifically metabolic alkalosis. The normal pCO2 indicates that the respiratory system is not the primary cause. The elevation in bicarbonate suggests that the body has undergone metabolic changes, leading to an increase in base or a decrease in acid. There is evidence of compensation, as the body attempts to maintain a normal pH.
Bulimia can contribute to these lab results due to repeated vomiting, resulting in loss of gastric acid from the body. This loss reduces the amount of acid in the blood, raising the pH, and causing the kidneys to retain more bicarbonate to compensate, resulting in increased bicarbonate levels in the blood.