Question

A typical blood gas of a patient with a pulmonary embolus would be:

            a) PaO₂ 75, CO₂ 45

            b) PaO₂ 50, CO₂ 29

            c) PaO₂ 68, CO₂ 45

            d) PaO₂ 80, CO₂ 32

Answer 1

In pulmonary embolism the patient has low pO2 (hypoxemia) as well as low pCo2(hypocapnea).

The normal range of pO2 is 75 to 100 mm of Hg

and the normal range of pCO2 is 35 to 45 mm of Hg.

As there is hypoxemia and hypocapnea thus the value of PO2 should be less than or equal to 50 mm Hg an the level of pCO2 should be less than 30 mm of Hg.

Hence the option B is the correct answer.

All the other options has value greater than the correct value in either of pO2 or pCO2.