A female patient after injury comes to casualty. Her ABG shows low pH. PCO2 high, bicarbonate normal.The diagnosis is -

First step Determine whether academia or alkalemia is present pH is low, indicating acidosis Second step Inspect HCO3-/CO2 to determine the cause of alkalemia or academia. In this case, the pCO2 is high and the bicarbonate is normal, so the acidosis can be easily attributed to increased CO2 Thus, this is a case of respiratory acidosis