NCC Certified Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) Practice Exam

A pH of 7.04, a PCO2 of 80, and HCO3 of 22 indicate which type of acidemia?

1. Metabolic acidemia

2. Respiratory acidemia

3. Compensated acidosis

4. Chronic acidosis

The correct answer is: Respiratory acidemia

To understand why the answer is respiratory acidemia, it is essential to analyze the values provided. The pH of 7.04 indicates acidemia, as it is below the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45. The elevated PCO2 of 80 mmHg indicates hypercapnia, or an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is indicative of respiratory failure or impaired gas exchange. The normal PCO2 range is between 35 to 45 mmHg, so a PCO2 level above 45 mmHg suggests that the body is not effectively removing CO2, leading to respiratory acidosis. The bicarbonate (HCO3) level of 22 is within the low end of the normal range (22 to 28 mEq/L), but it does not significantly compensate for the increased PCO2. This lack of compensation helps to reinforce the diagnosis of respiratory acidemia rather than metabolic acidemia, where one would typically see a normal or increased HCO3 level in the presence of low pH. In summary, the combination of a low pH and high PCO2 confirms the diagnosis of respiratory acidemia, as the respiratory system is compromised in eliminating carbon dioxide, resulting in an acidic