3 Compensation and Mixed Acid–Base Disorders Online Quiz Questions

True or false: Compensation moves pH toward normal but does not itself correct the underlying cause.

A patient with metabolic acidosis has an HCO₃⁻ of $12$ mEq/L and a measured PaCO₂ of $30$ mm Hg. Which statement best describes the measured PaCO₂ compared with the expected range from Winter’s formula?

For chronic respiratory acidosis with PaCO₂ at $70$ mm Hg, what is the lower bound of the expected HCO₃⁻ range? Use a baseline PaCO₂ of $40$ mm Hg and HCO₃⁻ of $24$ mEq/L.

In metabolic alkalosis, HCO₃⁻ is $34$ mEq/L. Using the practical estimate $40 + 0.6 \times (\mathrm{HCO}_3^- - 24)$, what PaCO₂ is expected?

True or false: Renal compensation takes longer than respiratory compensation, so the history can help distinguish acute from chronic respiratory disorders.

For metabolic acidosis, select all statements that correctly interpret the measured PaCO₂ relative to its expected compensatory range.

PaCO₂ is $60$ mm Hg, or $20$ mm Hg above baseline. Select the expected HCO₃⁻ estimates for both an acute and a chronic respiratory acidosis.

A patient with explicitly acute respiratory acidosis has PaCO₂ of $60$ mm Hg and HCO₃⁻ of $32$ mEq/L. What does the bicarbonate result suggest?

A patient has pH $7.40$, HCO₃⁻ $12$ mEq/L, and PaCO₂ $20$ mm Hg. Use Winter’s formula to determine whether this is a simple metabolic acidosis with compensation or a mixed disorder. Explain how the near-normal pH affects your conclusion.

A patient has chronic respiratory alkalosis with PaCO₂ of $30$ mm Hg and HCO₃⁻ of $18$ mEq/L. Which statement best characterizes the bicarbonate relative to the expected chronic range?

True or false: In metabolic alkalosis, compensatory PaCO₂ usually does not rise above about $55$ mm Hg.

Which statement correctly describes the compensatory response to primary acid–base disturbances?

For metabolic acidosis with $\mathrm{HCO_3^-} = 14$ mEq/L, what PaCO₂ range is expected by Winter’s formula, including its $\pm 2$ mm Hg allowance?

For metabolic alkalosis with $\mathrm{HCO_3^-} = 34$ mEq/L, calculate the estimated compensatory PaCO₂ using $40 + 0.6 \times (\mathrm{HCO_3^-} - 24)$. Enter the value in mm Hg.

In an acute respiratory acidosis with PaCO₂ of $70$ mm Hg, which $\mathrm{HCO_3^-}$ value is closest to the expected compensatory value?

In chronic respiratory alkalosis with PaCO₂ of $20$ mm Hg, what $\mathrm{HCO_3^-}$ range is expected from the stated rule of thumb?

For chronic respiratory acidosis with PaCO₂ of $60$ mm Hg, use the lower estimate of $3$ mEq/L bicarbonate rise per $10$-mm Hg PaCO₂ rise above $40$. What is the resulting estimated $\mathrm{HCO_3^-}$ in mEq/L?

When interpreting a patient's acid–base results using an approximate compensation estimate, what should be considered alongside the estimate?