AccessMedicine's Case of the Week: Acid Base Disturbance Case #13
From AccessMedicine
Case:
A 66-year-old male from Western Virginia with a history of alcoholism, tobacco abuse, COPD, IDDM, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia presents to the emergency department with complaints of blurry vision. His family noted the patient was not "acting himself" the last few hours and was experiencing falls and issues with vision at home.
| Laboratory Data: |
||||
| ABG |
Basic Metabolic Panel |
|||
| pH |
7.18 |
Na |
140 mEq/L |
|
| PaCO2 |
48 mm Hg |
K |
4.0 mEq/L |
|
| PaO2 |
100 mm Hg |
Cl |
104 mEq/L |
|
| HCO3 |
12 mEq/L |
CO2 |
12 mEq/L |
|
| BUN |
20 mg/dL |
|||
| Cr |
1.6 mg/dL |
|||
| Albumin |
4.0 g/dL |
|||
Question 1 of 6:
What is/are the primary acid-base disturbance(s) occurring in this case?
A - Metabolic acidosis only
B - Respiratory acidosis only
C - Metabolic acidosis and a respiratory acidosis
D - Metabolic alkalosis and a respiratory alkalosis
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