On admission,a patient presents with a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min,pursed-lip breathing,heart rate of 96 beats/min in sinus tachycardia,and a blood pressure of 110/68 mm Hg.The patient's arterial blood gas (ABG)values on room air are PaO₂,70 mm Hg; pH,7.38; PaCO₂,52 mm Hg; andHCO₃¯ ,34 mEq/L.What diagnoses would be most consistent with the above arterial blood gas values?

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The fact that the HCO₃¯
 level has increased enough to compensate for the increased pCO₂ level indicates that this is not an acute condition because the kidneys can take several days to adjust.The other choices would present with a lower HCO₃¯level.The values indicate respiratory acidosis,and one of the potential causes is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Potential causes for respiratory alkalosis are pulmonary embolism,acute myocardial infarction,and congestive heart failure.

On Admission,a Patient Presents with a Respiratory Rate of 24