The patient says she had been nauseated and weak for the past few days. She had not had a drink during her illness. Her exam is notable for retching and a non-tender abdomen. She appears well in appearance despite her tachycardia and tachypnea. The patient’s labs come back. What do we do next?
this blood gas is classic for asa overdose. the fact that the bicarb and pCO2 are very low and the pH is close to normal indicates a combined met acidosis(anion gap) and resp alkalosis (each cancelling each others effect on pH but both driving down bicarb and pCO2)