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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