A 68-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department by her son due to progressive lethargy and confusion over the past 24 hours. The son reports that she has experienced severe, watery diarrhea and intractable vomiting for the last 4 days following a suspected foodborne illness. Her past medical history is significant for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring home oxygen therapy. Upon arrival, her temperature is C ( F), blood pressure is mmHg, heart rate is /min, and respiratory rate is /min. Physical examination reveals a somnolent patient with profoundly dry mucous membranes, decreased skin turgor, and diffuse bilateral wheezing.
Laboratory studies reveal:
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Sodium | mEq/L |
| Potassium | mEq/L |
| Chloride | mEq/L |
| Bicarbonate | mEq/L |
| Blood urea nitrogen | mg/dL |
| Serum creatinine | mg/dL |
| Albumin | g/dL |
| Lactate | mmol/L |
An arterial blood gas obtained on room air shows:
| Parameter | Result |
|---|---|
| pH | |
| PaCO | mmHg |
| PaO | mmHg |
Which of the following combinations most accurately characterizes this patient's acid-base status?
- High anion gap metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and respiratory acidosisCevap
- BHigh anion gap metabolic acidosis, normal anion gap metabolic acidosis, and respiratory acidosis
- CHigh anion gap metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and respiratory alkalosis
- DHigh anion gap metabolic acidosis and respiratory acidosis only
- ENormal anion gap metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, and respiratory acidosis