A patient’s blood gas results show pH = 7.26, dCO2 = 2.0 mmol/L, HCO3 - = 29 mmol/L. What is the classification of these results?

The classification of the blood gas results indicates respiratory acidosis due to the combination of a low pH, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and a relatively normal bicarbonate level.

In this scenario, the pH of 7.26 indicates acidemia, as normal blood pH ranges from 7.35 to 7.45. A low pH suggests an increase in hydrogen ion concentration, which could be due to acid accumulation or a loss of bicarbonate. The dCO2 (dissolved carbon dioxide) level of 2.0 mmol/L indicates that there is an accumulation of carbon dioxide, which is a key factor in respiratory acidosis. When carbon dioxide levels rise, they lead to an increase in carbonic acid in the blood, subsequently decreasing the pH.

The bicarbonate level of 29 mmol/L is within the normal range, suggesting that the metabolic compensation for this respiratory acidosis is not significant or that the acidosis is acute rather than chronic. This is because in chronic respiratory acidosis, we would expect a higher bicarbonate level as the kidneys would compensate for the increased carbon dioxide over time by retaining bicarbonate.

This combination of low pH and elevated carbon dioxide levels confirms that the patient is experiencing respiratory ac