Question

Usual lab value changes: Compensated respiratory acidosis:

a) Increased pH, decreased PaCO₂
b) Decreased pH, increased PaCO₂
c) Increased pH, increased PaCO₂
d) Decreased pH, decreased PaCO₂

Answer 1

For compensated respiratory acidosis, you generally see a decreased pH, increased PaCO2, and increased bicarbonate (HCO3-) levels as the body attempts to compensate for the excess CO2.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is related to compensated respiratory acidosis, which is a condition where there is an excess of CO2 in the bloodstream and the body attempts to restore balance through compensatory mechanisms. In a compensated respiratory acidosis scenario, the pH may be near normal, but due to the compensatory mechanism, PaCO2 remains elevated while bicarbonate (HCO3-) levels increase to buffer the extra acid. Therefore, the typical lab value changes for compensated respiratory acidosis are a decreased pH, increased PaCO2, and increased HCO3-, which corresponds to option (d).