What do a pH of 7.45, PCO2 of 30 mm Hg, and HCO3 of 19 mEq/L indicate in a patient's blood gas results?

What do a pH of 7.45, PCO2 of 30 mm Hg, and HCO3 of 19 mEq/L indicate in a patient's blood gas results?

• A. Uncompensated respiratory alkalosis
• B. Compensated metabolic acidosis
• C. Compensated respiratory alkalosis
• D. Uncompensated metabolic alkalosis

Answer: (C)

The blood gas results indicate a situation characterized by a pH of 7.45, which is slightly above the normal range (7.35-7.45), suggesting a tendency toward alkalosis. The PCO2 level of 30 mm Hg is lower than the normal value (around 35-45 mm Hg), indicating that there is reduced carbon dioxide, which typically corresponds with respiratory alkalosis. The HCO3 level of 19 mEq/L is also lower than the normal range (22-26 mEq/L), which usually indicates an acidosis when considered in isolation. In this scenario, the slightly elevated pH alongside the low PCO2 indicates that the respiratory system is actively influencing the patient’s acid-base balance, likely leading to a state of alkalosis. The HCO3 level being low suggests there may be a compensatory response. Since the pH is still within the upper range of normal but the HCO3 is low and PCO2 is also low, this demonstrates a respiratory compensation for a primary metabolic acidosis, which is a key feature of compensated respiratory alkalosis. Therefore, the results suggest that the body is attempting to compensate for the metabolic state (lower HCO3) while maintaining a slight

The blood gas results indicate a situation characterized by a pH of 7.45, which is slightly above the normal range (7.35-7.45), suggesting a tendency toward alkalosis. The PCO2 level of 30 mm Hg is lower than the normal value (around 35-45 mm Hg), indicating that there is reduced carbon dioxide, which typically corresponds with respiratory alkalosis. The HCO3 level of 19 mEq/L is also lower than the normal range (22-26 mEq/L), which usually indicates an acidosis when considered in isolation.

In this scenario, the slightly elevated pH alongside the low PCO2 indicates that the respiratory system is actively influencing the patient’s acid-base balance, likely leading to a state of alkalosis. The HCO3 level being low suggests there may be a compensatory response. Since the pH is still within the upper range of normal but the HCO3 is low and PCO2 is also low, this demonstrates a respiratory compensation for a primary metabolic acidosis, which is a key feature of compensated respiratory alkalosis.

Therefore, the results suggest that the body is attempting to compensate for the metabolic state (lower HCO3) while maintaining a slight