A decreased total CO₂, decreased pCO₂, and decreased pH is most correctly classified as:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The decreased pH indicates some type of acidosis.Given that both the total CO₂ and pCO₂ are decreased, some compensation is occurring but is not yet complete, since the pH has not returned to normal.Thus these data indicate a partially compensated acidosis.If this acid-base imbalance began with a decrease in pCO₂ followed by compensation with a decrease in bicarbonate, the pH would be increased during the imbalance before returning to normal.In this case, the pH is decreased initially.Thus the initial problem leading to the decrease in pH must have begun with the decrease in bicarbonate.Since the initial cause for the imbalance occurred with the metabolic component, the correct classification of the imbalance is partially compensated metabolic acidosis.

A Decreased Total CO₂, Decreased PCO₂, and Decreased PH Is