A 28-year-old man is admitted to the emergency department with suspected drug overdose.The patient is obtunded and slightly cyanotic.The arterial blood gas results obtained while the patient was breathing room air were: pH 7.24;partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P_aCO₂)58 mm Hg;partial pressure of oxygen (P_aO₂)52 mm Hg;bicarbonate (HCO₃^-)24 mEq/L.The most appropriate interpretation of these results is which of the following?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This arterial blood gas shows an uncompensated respiratory acidosis with moderate hypoxemia.A patient with chronic respiratory failure would show an elevated bicarbonate (HCO₃-)due to the chronic respiratory failure.A patient with acute or chronic respiratory failure would have an elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arteries (PaCO₂)that is higher than what the patient's current HCO₃- can compensate for.Hypoxemic respiratory failure will only show a decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the arteries (PaO₂)unless the hypoxemia is so severe that the patient's ventilation is compromised.

A 28-Year-Old Man Is Admitted to the Emergency Department with Suspected