The clinical laboratory returns the following arterial blood values for a patient:
· pH = 7.2
· plasma HCO3 = 29 mmol/L
· plasma pCO2 = 75 mm Hg

What is this patient's acid-base disorder?

Question

The clinical laboratory returns the following arterial blood values for a patient: 
·	pH = 7.2
·	plasma HCO3 = 29 mmol/L
·	plasma pCO2 = 75 mm Hg

What is this patient's acid-base disorder?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's arterial blood values indicate respiratory acidosis (low pH and high pCO2) with partial renal compensation (elevated HCO3- to attempt to buffer the increased acidity).

The Clinical Laboratory Returns the Following Arterial Blood Values for a Patient