A patient has a PCO2 of 80 mm Hg. What is the concentration of dissolved CO2 (in mmol/L) in the blood?

a. 1.2 mmol/L
b. 2.4 mmol/L
c. 24 mmol/L
d. 40 mmol/L

ANS: B
Because dissolved CO2 (PCO2 ⋅ 0.03) is in equilibrium with and directly proportional to blood [H2CO3], and because blood PCO2 is more easily measured than [H2CO3], dissolved CO2 is used in the denominator of the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

Health Professions

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A typical sign or symptom of stress is _______

a. hypotension b. increased appetite c. anxiety d. increased sexual desire

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A total breast reconstruction is performed on a radical mastectomy patient. The radical mastectomy was done six months prior. What would a coder looking at the record for this encounter code?

A) mastectomy and reconstruction B) mastectomy only C) reconstruction only D) none of the above

Health Professions