For a patient experiencing an acute on chronic episode with known COPD, which ABG results would be expected?

For a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experiencing an acute on chronic episode, the expected arterial blood gas (ABG) results would reflect a combination of respiratory acidosis and potential metabolic compensation. In the context of COPD, patients are often in a state of respiratory acidosis due to retained carbon dioxide (PaCO2), especially during acute exacerbations.

In this scenario, the normal range for pH is approximately 7.35 to 7.45. A pH lower than 7.35 indicates acidemia, while a pH above 7.45 indicates alkalemia. COPD patients typically retain CO2, leading to increased PaCO2 levels, which can exacerbate acidosis.

The correct choice shows a pH of 7.48, which indicates a slight alkalosis. The PaCO2 level is 50 mm Hg, somewhat elevated but not extremely high, suggesting that there is some respiratory compensation taking place, possibly as the body tries to manage the CO2 retention often seen in COPD. The HCO3- level is 34 mEq/L, which is elevated, indicating a metabolic compensation that may develop over time in response to chronic respiratory acidosis.

Thus, the selected results