How should a neonatal/pediatric specialist interpret umbilical arterial blood gas results indicating pH 7.28 and PaCO2 49 torr from a term infant on room air?

When interpreting umbilical arterial blood gas results such as a pH of 7.28 and a PaCO2 of 49 torr from a term infant on room air, it's essential to consider the implications of these values. A pH of 7.28 indicates acidemia, as it is below the normal range of 7.35 to 7.45. The elevated PaCO2 of 49 torr also reflects respiratory acidosis, as normal values typically fall in the range of 35 to 45 torr.

Given that the pH is low and the PaCO2 is elevated, this signifies that the infant is experiencing respiratory acidosis. However, since the premise here is to interpret rather than identify a condition leading to "C" being the chosen answer, it's crucial to clarify that "normal values" might not accurately depict this specific scenario. The provided values indicate a state of acidosis rather than normal physiology.

A correct interpretation in terms of the condition would indicate an uncompensated respiratory acidosis due to the low pH and high PaCO2, as there is no considerable change in bicarbonate levels that may indicate a compensatory metabolic response.

To summarize, the chosen response does not align with the blood gas analysis