A 32-year-old woman is evaluated in the emergency department for severe, watery diarrhea occurring over the past 5 days after returning from a trip abroad. She reports weakness and dry mouth. Vital signs show a blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg and a heart rate of 110/min.
Laboratory studies show:
Serum sodium:
Serum chloride:
Serum bicarbonate:
Serum potassium:
Arterial blood gas analysis on room air shows a pH of 7.30.
Assuming appropriate respiratory compensation has occurred, which of the following is the expected arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) in this patient?
- A
- B
- Cevap
- D
- E
Cevap
This patient presents with a primary metabolic acidosis due to gastrointestinal bicarbonate losses (severe diarrhea). In the presence of metabolic acidosis, the physiological respiratory compensation is hyperventilation, which decreases the carbon dioxide level. The exact expected PaCO2 can be calculated using Winter's formula: . Using the patient's bicarbonate of , the calculation is .
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Respiratory compensation in primary metabolic acidosis (Winter's formula)