A patient presents to the emergency department with decreased mental status and the following arterial blood gas analysis is obtained: pH 7.26, Pa O2 100 mm Hg, PaC O2 26, [HCO 3 - ] 12.Which of the...

A patient presents to the emergency department with decreased mental status and the following arterial blood gas analysis is obtained: pH 7.26, Pa_O2
100 mm Hg, PaC_O2
26, [HCO₃
^-] 12.Which of the following is the primary acid-base disturbance and its accompanying compensatory mechanism?

A. Respiratory acidosis with a compensatory metabolic alkalosis

B. Metabolic acidosis with a compensatory respiratory alkalosis

C. Respiratory alkalosis with a compensatory metabolic acidosis

D. Metabolic alkalosis with a compensatory respiratory acidosis E. None of the above