Question

Ms Taylor, 68 years old, has been vomiting for 2 days. on the day of admission to the hospital, she feels agitated and anxious. Her lab results, and normal lab values, are given below. Based on this information you are do determine: 1. Determine the primary disturbance 2. How is the body trying to compensate and is the compensation successful? Variable Lab Results Normal Values

Blood pH 7.38 7.35-7.45

HCO3- 30 mEq/L 22-26 mEq/L

PaCO2 60 mm Hg 35-45 mm Hg

Question 7 options:

respiratory acidosis

respiratory alkalosis

metabolic acidosis

metabolic alkalosis

respiratory compensation by reducing breathing rate

metabolic compensation through renal retention of bicarbonate ions

compensation is successful because her blood pH is within normal range

compensation is unsuccessful because her blood pH is not within the normal range

Answer 1

Blood pH	7.38	7.35 - 7.45
HCO3	30mEq/L	22 - 26 mEq/L
PaCO2	60 mmHg	35 - 45 mmHg

The above lab findings shows that there is Respiratory acidosis.

This is because the partial pressure of carbondiaoxide is higher than the normal. When it is high it indiccates respiratory acidosis.

Here, the compensation is successful because blood pH is with in the normal.

In compensated respiratory acidosis, the body will try to increase the level of bicarbonate level slightly through cellular buffering , that is around 1mEq for every 10 mmHg of PaCO2. This reaction takes place slowly, thus giving the kidney the time to compensate. Since the pH is normal and the bicarbonate level increased slightly with elevated PaCO2 level we can say that compensation is successful.