[Verified Answer]: Peggy Ford is a patient with chronic COPD…

Peggy Ford is a patient with chronic COPD being admitted for surgery. Her admission labwork reveals an arterial blood gas with the following values: Clinical Laboratory PATIENT: Ford, Peggy DATE: 2/16/03 17:30 pH 7.35 PaCO2 48 HCO3 28 Follow the three steps: 1. Assess the pH. It is within the normal range, but on the low side of neutral (<7.40). 2. Assess the PaCO2. It is high (normal 35-45). We would expect the pH and PaCO2 to move in opposite directions if the primary problem is respiratory. 3. Assess the HCO3. It is also high (22-26). Normally, the pH and HCO3 should move in the same direction. Because they are moving in opposite directions, it confirms that the primary acid-base disorder is respiratory and that the kidneys are attempting to compensate by retaining HCO3. Because the pH has returned into the low normal range, we would interpret this ABG as: pH PaCO2 HCO3 normal, but <7.40 ↑ ↑ It is: _______________________ (5 pts)