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Retired NBME 22 Answers

nbme22/Block 2/Question#21 (reveal difficulty score)
A newborn has cyanosis, tachypnea, and ...
Respiratory acidosis and metabolic acidosis ๐Ÿ” / ๐Ÿ“บ / ๐ŸŒณ / ๐Ÿ“–
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submitted by โˆ—privwill(27)
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Step by step:

  1. pH = low = acidosis
  2. HCO3 = low = acidosis
  3. CO2 = high = acidosis

So, what I've learned is that, in essence, metabolic acidosis always takes priority in these scenarios. It's evident that the person is not compensating, but you want to calculate anyway by using Winter = 1.5 (HCO3) + 8 .
If you calculate you will see that the expected is 30.5.

  1. If CO2 is higher than expected = concomitant respiratory acidosis
  2. If CO2 is lower than expected = concomitant respiratory alkalosis

Here it is higher than expected (65) so concomitant respiratory acidosis.

I guess if you wanted to start with the respiratory acidosis you would've taken into consideration that bicarbonate should've gone up to compensate. It didn't so it's uncompensated. Not sure if there's a formula to calculate the other stuff

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makinallkindzofgainz  don't forget to add the +/- 2 to the end of Winter's formula. You have a tiny range in which CO2 can fall within +2
cbreland  I started with respiratory acidosis and thought that any compensation would have an increased HCO3-. HCO3- is lower than normal levels, so that would mean met. acidosis as well. No math involved like you alluded to +1



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submitted by โˆ—impostersyndromel1000(42)
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For the simple minded, if pH and CO2 are moving in opposite directions its respiratory. Here, pH is low and CO2 is high, so Respiratory Acidosis. Then looked at Bicarb, noticed it was below normal. If normal would have chosen uncompensated but since it decreased I assumed metabolic acidosis. Overall, weird Q bc tachypnea would mean hyperventilation which is respect alkalosis. But signs of weak response muscles or respiratory distress which would be responsible acidosis. Also, LOW pH with plasma Bicarb between ~8-33 means Mixed Acidosis (FA 2019 pg 580) so could also just pick the one with both Acidosis.

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thatmd  thank you!!! +



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submitted by โˆ—armymed88(49)
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A little math here.. pH is low --> acidosis pCO2 is high --> respiratory Normal compensation should be roughly a 1 (acute) to 4(chronic) increase in bicarb per every 10 increase in pCO2.. Its lower here, so clearly not compensated and indicated additional drop in bicard --> add on metab acidosis

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hello  Hm, what do you mean by "normal compensation?" Are you talking about the bicarb should be increased? Are you saying that a normal compensation would be metabolic alkalosis? Would metabolic alkalosis be an increase in bicarb? +2
kateinwonderland  How do you know which one has bigger contribution in this situation where there's increased CO2 and decreased HCO-, both indicating acidosis?? +
yb_26  normal kidney compensation would be an increase in bicarb reabsorption => increased serum bicarb. This pt has low serum bicarb => concurrent metabolic acidosis +



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submitted by nicsar(1)
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Pco2 Is high, acidosis; Respiratory acidosis.

If Compensated well, ฮ”HCO3-= E(Erythrocytiv compensation)ฮ”PCO2/10, (1~2)(65-40)/10=2.5~5 >> ฮ”HCO3=15-24=-9, not compensated, even less HCO3-; Combined metabolic acidosis.

for, Kidney compensation. use 3~4 instead of 1~2 in erythrocyctic compensation. and with this, the Gap between well compensated and the case even farther.

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