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A patient in the emergency room has the following arterial blood gas results:

pH 7.55 PaCO2 35 mm Hg
PaO2 84 mm Hg
HCO3- 35 mEq/L
BE +11 mEq/L
SAT 95%
Which of the following represents an accurate interpretation of the data?
A. respiratory alkalosis
B. metabolic acidosis
C. metabolic alkalosis
D. mixed-respiratory and metabolic acidosis

User Bill Anton
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

C. metabolic alkalosis The patient's laboratory values indicate a metabolic alkalosis, with a high pH and elevated bicarbonate, without respiratory compensation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient's arterial blood gas results show a pH of 7.55, which is above the normal range of 7.35-7.45, indicating alkalosis. The PaCO2 of 35 mm Hg is within the normal range for CO2 (male: 35-48 mm Hg, female: 32-45 mm Hg). However, the bicarbonate level (HCO3-) at 35 mEq/L and base excess (BE) of +11 mEq/L are both elevated, suggesting that the primary disturbance is an excess of bicarbonate.

This excess bicarbonate would typically be compensated with an elevated PaCO2 if respiratory compensation was occurring. In this case, because the PaCO2 is not elevated, the patient displays no signs of respiratory compensation. Consequently, these values are indicative of metabolic alkalosis.

The patient's arterial blood gas results indicate a pH of 7.55, PaCO2 of 35 mm Hg, PaO2 of 84 mm Hg, HCO3- of 35 mEq/L, BE of +11 mEq/L, and SAT of 95%. Based on these results, it can be determined that the patient is experiencing respiratory alkalosis.

Respiratory alkalosis occurs when the blood pH is elevated above the normal range of 7.35-7.45, and the PaCO2 is lower than the expected range (normal range: 35-48 mm Hg). In this case, the patient's PaCO2 is lower than normal, indicating a decrease in carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This could be caused by hyperventilation, anxiety, or certain lung conditions.

There is no evidence of compensation present in the arterial blood gas results, as the HCO3- level is within the normal range (22-29 mM). Therefore, the patient's respiratory alkalosis is uncompensated.

User VenkateshMogili
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