If a patient's ABG is measured at 24°C, what change would most likely occur when adjusted to core body temperature?

When arterial blood gases (ABG) are measured at a temperature lower than the standard core body temperature of 37°C, adjustments need to be made to account for standard conditions. As temperature increases, the solubility of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood generally increases, while the solubility of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) decreases.

At cooler temperatures, the dissolved gases are influenced by temperature, which can lead to variations in their measured values. When adjusting from 24°C to core body temperature, the PaO2 typically increases due to improved gas solubility, meaning more oxygen can be dissolved in the blood as the temperature rises. Conversely, the solubility of carbon dioxide decreases, which can lead to a reduction in the measured PaCO2.

This understanding underlines why the adjustment leads to decreased PaCO2 and increased PaO2 when the temperatures are normalized. Thus, option B accurately reflects this physiological response in blood gas adjustments based on temperature changes.