med 610 clinical respiratory diseases & critcare med

Arterial Blood Gas

Case 1

A 24 year-old woman is found down in Pioneer Square by some bystanders. The medics are called and, upon arrival, find her with an oxygen saturation of 88% on room air and pinpoint pupils on exam. She is brought into the Harborview ER where a room air arterial blood gas is performed and reveals:

  • pH 7.25
  • PCO2 60 PO2 65 HCO3- 26, Base Excess 1.

On her chemistry panel:

  • sodium 137
  • chloride 100
  • bicarbonate 26

Acid-base status:

Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference:

Explanation for the clinical picture:

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