A patient with spinal cord injury has an ABG result of pH 7.55, PaCO2 31, and HCO3 23. What acid-base disorder does this indicate?

The patient's arterial blood gas (ABG) results reveal a pH of 7.55, a PaCO2 of 31 mmHg, and a bicarbonate (HCO3) level of 23 mEq/L. In assessing these values, the pH is elevated, indicating alkalosis, as a normal pH range is typically between 7.35 and 7.45.

Next, looking at the PaCO2, which is 31 mmHg, this value is lower than the normal range (generally around 35 to 45 mmHg). A low PaCO2 indicates that the body is expelling carbon dioxide at an increased rate, which is often associated with hyperventilation or respiratory compensation.

The bicarbonate level is within the normal range (22-28 mEq/L), showing no metabolic component to the alkalosis.

The combination of an elevated pH and low PaCO2, with a normal HCO3 level, points towards respiratory alkalosis. This occurs when the lungs remove too much carbon dioxide from the body, leading to a rise in pH. In the context of a patient with a spinal cord injury, hyperventilation could be due to respiratory drive alterations as a