A patient's arterial blood gas results are as follows: pH 7.48; pco2, 54 mm Hg; HCO3 -, 38 mmol/L. These values are consistent with

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Multiple Choice

A patient's arterial blood gas results are as follows: pH 7.48; pco2, 54 mm Hg; HCO3 -, 38 mmol/L. These values are consistent with

Explanation:
This pattern shows a metabolic (nonrespiratory) alkalosis with respiratory compensation. The pH is alkalemic (high), and the bicarbonate is elevated (38 mmol/L), pointing to a metabolic origin. The elevated pCO2 (54 mm Hg) indicates the respiratory system is compensating by retaining CO2 to raise acidity and partially normalize the pH. Since the primary disturbance is metabolic (high HCO3−) and the pCO2 is elevated as a compensatory response, this is compensated nonrespiratory alkalosis. It’s not due to the respiratory system itself (which would show a low pCO2) and it’s not uncompensated because the pCO2 shows a corrective response.

This pattern shows a metabolic (nonrespiratory) alkalosis with respiratory compensation. The pH is alkalemic (high), and the bicarbonate is elevated (38 mmol/L), pointing to a metabolic origin. The elevated pCO2 (54 mm Hg) indicates the respiratory system is compensating by retaining CO2 to raise acidity and partially normalize the pH. Since the primary disturbance is metabolic (high HCO3−) and the pCO2 is elevated as a compensatory response, this is compensated nonrespiratory alkalosis. It’s not due to the respiratory system itself (which would show a low pCO2) and it’s not uncompensated because the pCO2 shows a corrective response.

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