A patient's arterial blood gas result is: pH: 7.40, PaCO2 60 mmHg; bicarbonate 36 mM/L. What is the presenting disturbance:
Blood gases can be misleading since a normal pH may suggest that there is no disturbance of acid-base balance, instead it is masking a double disturbance in opposite directions as in this case. The patient presents with respiratory acidosis (PaCO2 60 mmHg; normal to 50) and compensatory metabolic alkalosis (bicarbonate 36 mmol/l; normal to 28). This is the typical blood gas of the patient with COPD and compensated chronic respiratory failure.
None, pH is normal.
Respiratory acidosis.
Respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis.
Metabolic alkalosis.
The patient presents with respiratory acidosis (PaCO2 60 mmHg; normal to 50) and compensatory metabolic alkalosis (bicarbonate 36 mmol/l; normal to 28). This is the typical blood gas of the patient with COPD and compensated chronic respiratory failure.