An 80 year old male presents from home with 2 days of worsening of shortness of breath. He has a history of chronic airways disease and was recently hospitalised for repair of an Internal Iliac artery aneurysm.

Vital Signs:

BP 160/60 mmHg

PR 88/min

RR 26/min

Saturations 95% RA

An ABG was performed:

pH     7.517

pCO2      36.3 mmHg (35-45)

pO2        96 mmHg

HCO3      28.6 mmol/l  (24 +-2)

BE           5.5

Hb          171 g/l

Na          137 mmol/l (13145)

K             3.2 mmol/l (3.3-5)

Cl            100 mmol/l  (99-111)

Glucose   7 mmol/l (4-6)

Lactate    1.6 mmol/l

Describe and interpret the blood gas