Question

Jane suffers from anorexia nervosa. One afternoon she is rushed to the hospital because of a cardiac arrhythmia. Her breath has the smell of acetone and her blood and urine samples are positive for ketone bodies. Her ABG reveals: pH = 7.20, PCO2 = 26mmHg, and HCO3- = 19mEq/L.

1. What is her acid-base disturbance?

2. Is she compensating? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

1. The acid base disturbance is ketoacidosis . It ia metabolic acidosis disorder.

2. Yes , she is compensating .

Here as we can see pH is 9.20 , hence , it is acidotic condition. Now the decrease in pH is due to metabolic cause , ie , decrease in bicarbonates ( ie . ,19 mEq/L ) . Thus it is metabolic acidosis . Now to compensate it there must be an alkalotic condition , now this alkalosis can be achieved by decreasing the concentration of PCO2 , ( here which is 26 mm Hg ) .

Thus it metabolic acidosis with compensatory respiratory alkalosis.