Question

Your client's lab values are sodium 166 mEq/L, potassium 5.0 mEq/L, chloride 115 mEq/L, and bicarbonate 35 mEq/L. What condition is this client likely to have, judging by anion gap?
A. Metabolic acidosis.
B. Respiratory alkalosis.
C. Metabolic alkalosis.
D. Respiratory acidosis.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is - option A.

Explanation:

The anion gap is the difference between the positively and negatively charged electrolytes sum of bicarbonate and chloride ion and potassium and sodium cations.

Too high or too low of the anion gap is related to the disorder in lung, kidney and other. An anion gap that is more than 16 mEq/L suggestes that it is case of metabolic acidosis, in the given given question the anion gap is : (166+5) - (115+35), yielding 21 mEq/L.

Thus, the correct answer is - option A.