A 54-year-old man is brought to the emergency department by his wife because of progressive lethargy and confusion for the past 10 hours. His temperature is 36.7 C (98 F), blood pressure is 86/48 mm Hg, pulse is 120/min, and respirations are 12/min. Arterial blood gas results show pH 7.54, PaCO₂ 49 mm Hg, and PaO₂ 85 mm Hg. Which of the following laboratory studies would be the most useful in determining the cause of this patient's acid-base abnormality?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Total body chloride depletion is often important in the pathophysiology of metabolic alkalosis.  Measurement of urine chloride can be helpful in determining the underlying etiology.

A 54-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Emergency Department by His