Question 11

11.  Your patient is a 56 year old male who has a history of COPD and IDDM.  He presents with a blood sugar of 456.  He presents with shortness of breath, fever, nausea , and vomiting.  The patient’s ABG is as follows:  pH 7.23. PaCO2-23, HCO3-15.  Which of the following is the most accurate description of the clinical scenario above:

A.  The patient has a respiratory acidosis

B.  The patient has a a metabolic alkalosis

C.  The patient has a metabolic acidosis

D.  The patient has a respiratory alkalosis