Final answer:
The correct answer is (a) Increased pH, decreased PaCO2, reflecting a state of uncompensated respiratory alkalosis where the CO2 levels are low, and pH is elevated without significant renal compensation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The usual lab value changes associated with uncompensated respiratory alkalosis involve an increased pH and a decreased pCO2. In respiratory alkalosis, there is a deficiency of CO2 in the bloodstream, which leads to an elevated blood pH. Initially, the bicarbonate concentration would be normal, but with renal compensation, which occurs to correct the imbalance, the bicarbonate levels would decrease as the kidneys excrete more bicarbonate to adjust the pH back to the physiological range.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is:
- a) Increased pH, decreased PaCO2
This response reflects a primary respiratory problem without metabolic compensation. The decrease in pCO2 represents the primary disturbance (less carbon dioxide in the blood), and the increase in pH indicates the resultant alkalotic state. Compensation mechanisms, such as adjustments in renal function, have not yet altered the bicarbonate concentration to a significant degree.