• 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 5

A 68 year-old man with a history of very severe COPD (FEV₁ ~ 1.0L, <25% predicted) and chronic carbon dioxide retention (Baseline PCO₂ 58) presents to the emergency room complaining of worsening dyspnea and an increase in the frequency and purulence of his sputum production over the past 2 days. His oxygen saturation is 78% on room air. Before he is place on supplemental oxygen, a room air arterial blood gas is drawn and reveals:

• pH 7.25,
• PCO₂ 68,
• PO₂ 48,
• HCO₃- 31

Acid-base status:

Alveolar-arterial oxygen difference:

Explanation for the clinical picture:

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