A patient has a blood gas result of: pH 7.29, PaCO2 of 60 mm Hg, ...

[nautica902]

A patient has a blood gas result of: pH 7.29, PaCO2 of 60 mm Hg, and a HCO3 of 18 mEq/L. What is the blood gas indicating?
 
  1. It is indicating a combined acidosis.
  2. Patient has a primary respiratory and a primary metabolic disorder.
  3. Compensation is not possible.
  a. 3 only
  b. 1 and 2 only
  c. 2 and 3 only
  d. 1, 2, and 3

Question 2

Based on the following ABG results, what is the most likely acid-base diagnosis? pH = 7.01, PCO2 = 71 mm Hg, HCO3 = 16.3 mEq/L
 
  a. Acute metabolic acidosis
  b. Acute respiratory acidosis
  c. Combined respiratory and metabolic aci-dosis
  d. Partially compensated respiratory acidosis

[akpaschal]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
A mixed acid-base disorder has two primary acid-base problems, which is indicated by the low pH caused by a high PaCO2 and a low HCO3.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
A combined disturbance is one in which both respiratory and metabolic disturbances exist, which promote the same acid-base disturbance. For the following arterial blood gas results: a pH value of 7.01, a PaCO2 value of 71 mm Hg, and an HCO3 value of 16.3 mEq/L. The pH indicates acidemia, consistent with both the high PaCO2 and the decreased HCO3. This is a combined ac-idosis, indicating that the patient has two primary acid-base problems (i.e., respiratory and meta-bolic alkalosis combined). Therefore, compensation is not possible.