Which combination indicates metabolic acidosis on ABG?

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Multiple Choice

Which combination indicates metabolic acidosis on ABG?

Explanation:
Metabolic acidosis shows a primary drop in bicarbonate (HCO3−) with acidemia (low pH). The body tries to compensate by blowing off CO2, so the PCO2 tends to decrease. When you see a low pH and low HCO3− with a normal PCO2, this can reflect an acute, uncompensated metabolic acidosis. The other patterns either point to alkalosis (high pH with high HCO3− or high PCO2) or a mixed disorder, which don’t fit isolated metabolic acidosis.

Metabolic acidosis shows a primary drop in bicarbonate (HCO3−) with acidemia (low pH). The body tries to compensate by blowing off CO2, so the PCO2 tends to decrease. When you see a low pH and low HCO3− with a normal PCO2, this can reflect an acute, uncompensated metabolic acidosis. The other patterns either point to alkalosis (high pH with high HCO3− or high PCO2) or a mixed disorder, which don’t fit isolated metabolic acidosis.

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