BLOOD GAS ANALYSIS CASE DISCUSSION
Reference Ranges: PH (7.35 – 7.45), pCO2 (35 - 45) mmHg, pO2(80 – 100) mmHg , HCO3 (20 –
30) mmol/L, Base Excess (+3 to -3), Sodium (135 – 145) mmol/L, Chloride (90 – 110) mmol/L,
Potassium (3.5 -5.5) mmol/L
1. A 24 year-old woman is found subconscious at Jevanjee Gardens by some bystanders.
The medics are called and, upon arrival, find her with an oxygen saturation of 88% on
room air. She is brought into the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Emergency
Department where arterial blood gas was performed. Her findings were as given: pH
7.20, pCO2 60 mmHg pO2 65mmHg HCO3- 26 mmol/L, Base Excess +1. Sodium 137
mmol/L, chloride 100 mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What are the possible causes of her condition?
2. A 68 year-old man admitted at the medical ward has the following blood gas analysis
results: pH 7.25, pCO2 68mmHg, pO2 48 mmHg, HCO3- 31mmol/L
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) List five causes of the disorder above
3. A 65 year-old man is brought into Thika Level 5 hospital with complaints of severe
nausea and weakness. He has had problems with peptic ulcer disease in the past and has
been having similar pain for the past two weeks. Over the past week, has been drinking
significant quantities of milk and consuming large quantities of TUMS (calcium
carbonate). His laboratory findings are as given: Calcium 2.87 mmol/L, pH 7.45,
pCO2 49 mmHg, pO2 68 mmHg, HCO3- 34 mmol/L, sodium 139 mmol/L, chloride 95
mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What is the possible cause of her condition?
c) List five other causes of the acid base disorder above
4. A 60 year-old man is brought into clinic by his family who are concerned that his
somnolence and morning headaches. An arterial blood gas is performed and shows the
following: pH 7.37, pCO2 57 mmHg, pO2 70 mmHg, HCO3- 32 mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What are the possible causes of her condition?
5. A climber is coming down from the summit of Mt. Everest. At an altitude of 8,400 m
(PB ~ 272 mmHg), he has a blood gas drawn while breathing ambient air as part of the
exercise. The blood gas reveals: pH 7.55, pCO2 12 mmHg, pO2 30 mmHg, HCO3- 10.5
mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What is the possible cause of his condition?
c) List five other causes of the acid base disorder above
Reference Ranges: PH (7.35 – 7.45), pCO2 (35 - 45) mmHg, pO2(80 – 100) mmHg , HCO3 (20 –
30) mmol/L, Base Excess (+3 to -3), Sodium (135 – 145) mmol/L, Chloride (90 – 110) mmol/L,
Potassium (3.5 -5.5) mmol/L
1. A 24 year-old woman is found subconscious at Jevanjee Gardens by some bystanders.
The medics are called and, upon arrival, find her with an oxygen saturation of 88% on
room air. She is brought into the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Emergency
Department where arterial blood gas was performed. Her findings were as given: pH
7.20, pCO2 60 mmHg pO2 65mmHg HCO3- 26 mmol/L, Base Excess +1. Sodium 137
mmol/L, chloride 100 mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What are the possible causes of her condition?
2. A 68 year-old man admitted at the medical ward has the following blood gas analysis
results: pH 7.25, pCO2 68mmHg, pO2 48 mmHg, HCO3- 31mmol/L
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) List five causes of the disorder above
3. A 65 year-old man is brought into Thika Level 5 hospital with complaints of severe
nausea and weakness. He has had problems with peptic ulcer disease in the past and has
been having similar pain for the past two weeks. Over the past week, has been drinking
significant quantities of milk and consuming large quantities of TUMS (calcium
carbonate). His laboratory findings are as given: Calcium 2.87 mmol/L, pH 7.45,
pCO2 49 mmHg, pO2 68 mmHg, HCO3- 34 mmol/L, sodium 139 mmol/L, chloride 95
mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What is the possible cause of her condition?
c) List five other causes of the acid base disorder above
4. A 60 year-old man is brought into clinic by his family who are concerned that his
somnolence and morning headaches. An arterial blood gas is performed and shows the
following: pH 7.37, pCO2 57 mmHg, pO2 70 mmHg, HCO3- 32 mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What are the possible causes of her condition?
5. A climber is coming down from the summit of Mt. Everest. At an altitude of 8,400 m
(PB ~ 272 mmHg), he has a blood gas drawn while breathing ambient air as part of the
exercise. The blood gas reveals: pH 7.55, pCO2 12 mmHg, pO2 30 mmHg, HCO3- 10.5
mmol/L.
a) What is the acid base disorder?
b) What is the possible cause of his condition?
c) List five other causes of the acid base disorder above
