Question

Interpret the venous blood gas:

Acidaemia with pH 7.047
HCO3- 7.9mmol/L (normal 18 - 24 mmol/L)
pCO2 36
Na 148
K 4.2
Cl 110

Answer 1

The venous blood gas indicates acidaemia with metabolic acidosis and partial respiratory compensation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The venous blood gas results indicate acidaemia, which is the presence of an acidic pH. The pH value of 7.047 falls below the normal range of 7.35-7.45, indicating acidosis. The bicarbonate (HCO3-) level of 7.9 mmol/L is significantly below the normal range of 18-24 mmol/L.

This suggests that there is a metabolic acidosis, as there is a low level of bicarbonate. Additionally, the pCO2 value of 36 falls within the normal range, indicating that the respiratory system has not fully compensated for the acidosis.

In summary, the venous blood gas indicates acidaemia with metabolic acidosis and partial respiratory compensation.