The following VBG was taken from a 20yr old with known T1DM:
pH 6.872 pCO2 27 pO2 36.5 HCO3 4.7 O2 59.9 Hb 164 Na 142 K 4.2 Cl 110 Ca 1.47 Glu 26.1 Lactate 3.5 Creat 75 Ketones 3.0
Category Archives: Lab Cases
VBG of the week 30 Apr 25
The following patient presents with 1day of vomiting, and has had multiple similar presentations:
ph 6.98 pCo2 70 pO2 45 HCO3 15 Base Xs -19 Saturation 57 Sample type: Venous Na 116 K 8.1 Cl 88 IonCa 1.19 Creatinine 204 Hb 149 Glucose 22 Lactate 13.1 Carboxy Hb 0 Met Hb 0.7
What is your diagnosis and management?
VBG of the week 26/3/25
A 40yr male patient presents with OOHCA. During arrest he received thrombolysis for potential STEMI and 10mmol KCL to treat an initial VBG K 2.5
The team then achieved ROSC and the following ABG was obtained immediately after placement of arterial line.
Please outline you management?
Lab case 455
80 year old man presented with shortness of breath. This patient had history of CHF and COPD. His venous blood gases showed the following
- PH = 7.409
- pCO2 = 54 mmHg
Lab case 454 interpretation
PH = 7.39, that is within the normal range.
pCO2 = 30 mmHg, that is slightly low. This patient might have respiratory alkalosis.
Next, we should look at the compensation for respiratory acidosis. (This patient is 2 years old. The condition will be acute).
Lab case 454
2-year-old boy brought to ED by ambulance as category 1 for severe croup. His blood gases showed the following.
PH = 7.39
Lab case 453 interpretation
PH = 6.782, that is severe acidaemia.
HCO3 = 2.5 mmol/L, that is extremely low. So we have metabolic acidosis.
Next we need to calculate the compensation and find out what type of metabolic acidosis this patient has.
Lab case 453
72 year-year-old man with history of type II DM and has a single kidney. Presented with 2 weeks of diarrhoea. He has been in bed for 2 weeks. Unresponsive. Last proper meal was 2 weeks ago. His Venous blood gases showed the following:
PH = 6.782
pCO2 = 17 mmHg
pO2 = 75 mmHg
Lab case 452 interpretation
Question 1:
PH = 7.30, that is mild acidaemia.
HCO3 = 18, that is low (less than 24), So we have metabolic acidosis.
Once we have metabolic acidosis, next step is to calculate compensation and anion gap.
Lab case 452
17-year-old boy with wrist fracture. This patient became blue during manipulation of the fracture under bier’s block anaesthetic effect.
Arterial blood gas was performed and it showed the following:
PH = 7.30
PCO2 = 28 mmHg