A patient has the following laboratory results: Glucose 750 mg/dl, Potassium 6.0 mmoles/L, Carbon dioxide 7.0 mmoles/L. What would an arterial blood gas from this patient most likely show?

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The laboratory results indicate significant hyperglycemia (glucose of 750 mg/dl), which suggests a possible diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperglycemic crisis. High blood glucose levels can lead to the accumulation of organic acids, particularly ketones, contributing to metabolic acidosis.

The potassium level of 6.0 mmoles/L indicates hyperkalemia, which can occur due to acidosis as potassium shifts out of cells and into the bloodstream in response to acidotic states. Elevated carbon dioxide at 7.0 mmoles/L signifies a significant decrease in bicarbonate levels, which aligns with metabolic acidosis. In this context, the bicarbonate buffer system is overwhelmed due to the excess of hydrogen ions produced from acidosis, and thus the patient's arterial blood gas analysis would likely show a low pH, confirming a state of acidosis.

Therefore, the combination of high glucose, elevated potassium, and low bicarbonate is consistent with metabolic acidosis as the primary disorder affecting this patient, making it the most likely finding from arterial blood gas analysis.

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