QuestionSBA
QuestionChoice
Sepsis is a life-threatening emergency involving systemic infection of the blood. Septic shock results in lactic acidosis which will cause a raised anion gap metabolic acidosis. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.
10004177
b
Sepsis
QuestionChoice
This patient is likely suffering from gastroenteritis. Symptoms often include diarrhoea and vomiting. Diarrhoea can cause a metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap due to loss of bicarbonate from the GI tract. This is what the VBG results are showing.
10004176
a
Diarrhoea
QuestionChoice
This is a life-threatening emergency which occurs in diabetics. Common signs and symptoms include breathlessness, stomach pain and vomiting. It will cause a raised anion gap metabolic acidosis, similar to septic shock. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.
10004178
c
Diabetic ketoacidosis
QuestionChoice
Hyperventilation results in the loss of CO~2~ from the body causing a respiratory alkalosis. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
10004180
e
Hyperventilation
QuestionChoice
Vomiting can be a symptom of gastroenteritis. However, it results in metabolic alkalosis due to the loss of hydrogen ions and therefore is incorrect.
10004179
d
Vomiting
Concept
Chapter
2693
4244
Raised Anion Gap
Topic
170
Clinical Chemistry
13382
A 17-year-old female presents to A&E complaining of being systemically unwell over the last 3 days since eating a "dodgy takeaway." A venous blood gas (VBG) shows:


||||
|--------------|:-------:|------------------|
|pH|7.32|7.35 - 7.45|
|PaO₂|12.0 kPa|11 - 15|
|PaCO₂|4.9 kPa|4.6 - 6.4|
|Bicarbonate|19 mmol/L|22 - 30|
|Anion gap|+9 mmol/L|8 - 14|

Which of the following is the most likely cause of this presentation?
a