• SOM 4th Yr Curriculum

• CLERKSHIP INFORMATION
• Introduction / Goals and Objectives
• Rotations
  • HMC
  • UWMC
  • VAMC
• Seminars
• Faculty Only
• PULMONARY EDUCATION
• Pulmonary Med Library
• Arterial Blood Gases
• Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing
• Mechanical Ventilation
• Pulmonary Function Testing
• Pleural Effusion
• Radiology

Arterial Blood Gas

Case 6

A climber is coming down from the summit of Mt. Everest. At an altitude of 8,400 m (P_B ~ 272 mmHg), he has a blood gas drawn while breathing ambient air as part of a research project. The blood gas reveals

• pH 7.55,
• PCO₂ 12,
• PO₂ 30
• and HCO₃- 10.5

Acid-base status:

Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference:

Explanation for the clinical picture:

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