what is the correct answer? I will thumbs up the right answer Joe\'s Arterial bl
ID: 3514712 • Letter: W
Question
what is the correct answer? I will thumbs up the right answer
Joe's Arterial blood tests revealed the following: pO2 (partial pressure of oxygen in the plasma) 73 mm Hg (normal- 80-105 mm Hg) pCO2 (partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the plasma) 50 mm Hg (normal 35- 45 mm Hg) pH-7.32 (normal 7.35-7.45) Hb-02 sat (hemoglobin-oxygen saturation)-84% (normal 95-98%) Why was his arterial blood pH below normal? Increased 02 levels in blood Increased CO2 levels in blood Increased Chloride in blood Increased HCO3-in bloodExplanation / Answer
Answer:
Option b - Increased CO2 levels in blood.
Joe's blood tests reveal that he is having acidemia in his blood due to some form of respiratory failure. The values given here point to respiratory failure or hypoventilation causing respiratory acidosis.
PO2 is less than normal (73mmHg) but pCO2 is elevated( 5O mmHg). Hb- 02 saturation is also found to be only 84%. CO2 in blood produces carbonic acid so, in excess of CO2 carbonic acid accumulation results causing a fall in pH;making it acidic. This is indicated by the given pH of 7.32.
Normally to maintain optimum pH, buffer systems act. In case of acidosis, the bicarbonate buffer systems are activated to neutralize excess acids which cause the bicarbonate levels in the blood to rise( in compensatory acidosis cases).
Increased chloride levels in blood can indicate kidney failure or it can also result from severe diarrhea or a large infusion of saline. Respiratory alkalosis due to low CO2 due to hyperventilation can also lead to increased chloride levels in the blood which is not the case here.
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