Lab Case 352

70 year old female presents to ED with a 1 month history of vomiting and diarrhoea. Over the last few days she has started to feel increasingly weak and had a few episodes of confusion. The patient has a background history of one previous episode small bowel colitis for which she was treated with a short course of steroids 2 years ago. On examination HR 102 BP 90/540 Apyrexial Sats 97% RA RR18. She has dry mucous membranes and decreased skin turgor and CPR 3 seconds.

VBG

pH 7.557                                                  Na 122 mmol/l

pCO2 44 mmHg                                      K 2.0 mmol/l

HCO3 37 mmol/l                                     Cl 74 mmol/l

BE 12.9                                                    Cr 85 umol/l

Lactate 2.6                                                BSL 5.5 mmol/l

  1. Describe and interpret the VBG