A 68 year old with a 70 pack/year smoking history and chronic analgesic abuse presents with bronchitis.
pH 7.1 Na+ 140
PaCO2 50 K+ 5.0
PAO2 51 Cl- 102
HCO3- 15
Which acid-base disturbances are present?
I guess it is respiratory acidosis as there is evidence of lungs involved in the process of excess COs removing. And Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causes the resp acidosis
Combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis.
Low Ph- Acidosis.
Raised Pco2- Respiratory acidosis.
In longstanding COPD we would expect renal compensation with increase in HCO3 but here, it is decreased so metabolic acidosis is present possibly resulting from renal impairment secondary to analgesic abuse.