Answer
Henry suffered a myocardial infarction/heart attack(MI). He would naturally in the Emergency Room or in an intensive acre unit. His lab results are instructive.
1. His blood pH is 7.30. This is above normal neutral pH of 7.0, but normal blood pH range is 7.38-7.42. This means that for medical purposes, Henry's blood is acidic. This could be due either to an increase in PCO2 or a decrease in [HCO3].
Henry's [HCO3-} is low --20 mEq/L; Normal would be 22-28 mEq/L.
Henry's PCO2 20 mm Hg) is also lower than normal. Normal range is 34-45 mm Hg
Diagnosis: Henry has partially compensated metabolic acidosis
Work Step by Step
The cause of this pathology is most likely due to malfunctioning of Henry's kidneys because of inadequate blood supply secondary to his heart attack.
