A 22-year-old medical student has presented to ED with perfuse diarrhoea, shortness of breath and dehydration. | Medibuddy
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9th February 2024

A 22-year-old medical student has presented to ED with perfuse diarrhoea, shortness of breath and dehydration.

A 22-year-old medical student has presented to ED with perfuse diarrhoea, shortness of breath and dehydration. He has just returned from an elective in Kenya.

Blood gas on room air shows the following:

Investigation Results Normal value
pH 7.31 7.35-7.45
pCO2 4.1 kPa 4.7-6.0 kPa
pO2 12.6 kPa >10.5 kPa
HCO3- 14 mmol/l 22-29 mmol/l

What does the blood gas show?

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