The arterial blood gases for a client with acute respiratory distress are pH 7.30, PaO2 80 mm Hg (10.64 kPa), PaCO2 55 mm Hg (7.32 kPa), and HCO3 23 mEq/L (23 mmol/L). How would the nurse interpret these findings?

The arterial blood gases for a client with acute respiratory distress are pH 7.30, PaO2 80 mm Hg (10.64 kPa), PaCO2 55 mm Hg (7.32 kPa), and HCO3 23 mEq/L (23 mmol/L). How would the nurse interpret these findings?

• A. Hypoxemia
• B. Hypocapnia
• C. Compensated metabolic acidosis
• D. Uncompensated respiratory acidosis

Answer: (D)

This ABG pattern shows acidemia with an elevated CO2 and a normal bicarbonate, pointing to a respiratory cause of the acid-base disturbance. The pH of 7.30 means the blood is acidic. The high PaCO2 of 55 mm Hg indicates that CO2 is being retained because ventilation is inadequate, which drives the respiratory acidosis. The bicarbonate of 23 mEq/L is within the normal range, so there is no metabolic compensation yet. In acute respiratory acidosis, bicarbonate may still be normal because the kidneys haven’t had time to compensate; in chronic cases, bicarbonate would rise as compensation develops. PaO2 is 80 mm Hg, which is around normal and does not indicate hypoxemia. Therefore, this is an acute, uncompensated respiratory acidosis.

This ABG pattern shows acidemia with an elevated CO2 and a normal bicarbonate, pointing to a respiratory cause of the acid-base disturbance. The pH of 7.30 means the blood is acidic. The high PaCO2 of 55 mm Hg indicates that CO2 is being retained because ventilation is inadequate, which drives the respiratory acidosis. The bicarbonate of 23 mEq/L is within the normal range, so there is no metabolic compensation yet. In acute respiratory acidosis, bicarbonate may still be normal because the kidneys haven’t had time to compensate; in chronic cases, bicarbonate would rise as compensation develops. PaO2 is 80 mm Hg, which is around normal and does not indicate hypoxemia. Therefore, this is an acute, uncompensated respiratory acidosis.