Blood Gas Interpretation
Uncompensated Metabolic Acidosis [SIG002US]
This is the blood gas result for Deepak Patel for scenario SIG002US
Clinical Picture
- 64-year-old male presenting with severe abdominal pain
- Patient is alert and responds appropriately, but is in visible discomfort
- Known history of diverticular disease
- Tachycardic, tachypneic, hypotensive, and febrile
Findings
- Sample type: Arterial
- FiO2: 21%
- pH: 7.30
- paCO2: 38 mmHg
- paO2: 90 mmHg
- HCO3: 18
- Base excess: -8
- Acid-base balance: Abnormal
- Other parameters: Elevated lactate
Summary
- pH, HCO3, and base excess are not within normal limits on this blood gas. Lactate is not within normal limits (acidotic).
- The acidotic bicarbonate (HCO3) and base excess match with the acidotic pH, consistent with a metabolic acidosis. The normal PaCO2 indicates compensation has not yet occurred; therefore, this is an uncompensated metabolic acidosis, such as that commonly found in acute sepsis or lactic acidosis.