Lab case 303

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42 year old lady with cerebral palsy was referred by her GP for low potassium level. Her VBG showed the following

PH = 7.436

pCO2 = 53 mmHg

pO2 = 21 mmHg

HCO3 = 35 mmol/L

Hb = 175 g/L

Na = 141 mmol/L

K = 2.4 mmol/L

Cl = 94 mmol/L

BSL = 5.2 mmol/L

Lactate = 2.0 mmol/L

Creatinine = 52 nmol/L

Questions:

  1.  Interpret these results
  2. What is your approach for diagnosing the cause of hypokalaemia

Thanks to Dr Joshua Ho for providing these blood gases