Access Medicine's Case of the Week: Acid Base Disturbance Case #7
Case
A 31-year-old female with refractory severe persistent asthma presents to the emergency department with a severe asthma exacerbation. She is very anxious, and wheezing is audible from the hallway. The patient is tachypneic, and a chest x-ray shows no infiltrate, no pneumothorax, and no other pathology.
| Laboratory Data: | ||||
| ABG | Basic Metabolic Panel | |||
| pH | 7.35 | Na | 140 mEq/L | |
| PaCO2 | 25 mm Hg | K | 4.0 mEq/L | |
| PaO2 | 101 mm Hg | Cl | 105 mEq/L | |
| HCO3 | 20 mEq/L | CO2 | 20 mEq/L | |
| BUN | 13 mg/dL | |||
| Cr | 1.0 mg/dL | |||
Question 1 of 5
What is/are the primary acid-base disturbance(s) occurring in this case?
A - Metabolic acidosis only
B - Respiratory alkalosis only
C - Metabolic acidosis and a respiratory acidosis
D - Metabolic alkalosis and a respiratory acidosis
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