In a patient with severe respiratory acidosis, what might their arterial blood gas show?

In a patient with severe respiratory acidosis, arterial blood gas analysis will typically show a low pH due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide, which leads to an increase in hydrogen ion concentration. The arterial blood gas would reflect elevated levels of pCO2, indicating that the patient is not adequately ventilating and is retaining CO2.

Choice A presents a pH of 7.11, which is significantly low and indicates acidosis. The pCO2 is 73 mmHg, which is markedly elevated, confirming respiratory acidosis as CO2 retention is the primary factor leading to the acidosis. The relatively normal bicarbonate (HCO3-) level of 28 suggests that the acidosis is acute and that the metabolic compensation has not yet fully occurred.

An understanding of other scenarios provided is also necessary. For example, a pH of 7.20 with a reduced pCO2 of 20 in choice B indicates a respiratory alkalosis or metabolic acidosis rather than respiratory acidosis, as the alkalosis would lead to a high pH instead of low. In option C, a pH of 7.34 coupled with a pCO2 of 60 suggests some degree of respiratory acidosis but is not as severe since