Question

In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), decreased carbon dioxide elimination results in increased carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood, leading to which of the following acid–base imbalances?

Answer 1

The raising of Carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood results in a respiratory acidosis. This happens because the carbon dioxide is decreases the blood’s pH causing a medical emergency. The main cause of acute respiratory acidosis is the alteration of ventilation that happens after a depression of the central respiratory center as a consequence of a cerebral disease or trauma. In this case, the COPD causes chronic respiratory acidosis because the respiratory muscles are compromised because of fatigue. The ventilation is therefore affected, and there is accumulation of carbon monoxide that can not be exchanged with oxygen. This produces a decline of the blood’s pH.

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