The arterial blood gas results pH 7.60, PaCO2 25 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L indicate which acid-base disturbance?

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Multiple Choice

The arterial blood gas results pH 7.60, PaCO2 25 mmHg, HCO3 24 mEq/L indicate which acid-base disturbance?

Explanation:
The main idea is interpreting ABG values by identifying the primary disturbance through pH and the two major components: PaCO2 and HCO3-. Here the pH is elevated (alkalemia), and the PaCO2 is low (hypocapnia), which points to a respiratory cause of the alkalosis. The bicarbonate is still normal, indicating there’s no metabolic compensation yet. So this is a primary respiratory alkalosis in the acute stage; if it were chronic, you’d expect a drop in bicarbonate as compensation.

The main idea is interpreting ABG values by identifying the primary disturbance through pH and the two major components: PaCO2 and HCO3-. Here the pH is elevated (alkalemia), and the PaCO2 is low (hypocapnia), which points to a respiratory cause of the alkalosis. The bicarbonate is still normal, indicating there’s no metabolic compensation yet. So this is a primary respiratory alkalosis in the acute stage; if it were chronic, you’d expect a drop in bicarbonate as compensation.

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