TJC A 12 year-old boy is admitted into the emergency department of the
hospital. He is breathing rapidly and is not fully conscious. His parents
note that he has been irritable lately and has not been himself for the last
few days.
Selected lab/vital values:
respirations = 33/minute blood glucose = 567 mg/dL
hematocrit = 45%
Na+ = 139 mEq/L Cat+ = 8.7 mg/dL blood pH = 7.2
Pco2 = 20 mm Hg
HCO3 = 9 mEq/L
total WBC's = 7300
Which one of the following statements is true regarding this patient?
There are sufficient data provided in order to arrive at the diagnosis.
There are insufficient data to arrive at a probable diagnosis.
A differential WBC count would be helpful in arriving at a diagnosis.
The patient is hypoventilating and this is causing an acidosis.
Calculating the PO2 would be required to confirm a diagnosis.