Which of the following is a cause of respiratory acidosis in a non-ventilated patient?

Respiratory acidosis occurs when there is an accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body, leading to a decrease in blood pH. In a non-ventilated patient, this condition can arise from various respiratory issues that hinder adequate gas exchange.

Pulmonary edema is a significant cause of respiratory acidosis because it involves the accumulation of fluid in the alveoli, impairing the lung's ability to transfer oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from it. As a result, the patient's ability to ventilate effectively is compromised. The fluid-filled alveoli limit gas exchange, leading to an increase in CO2 levels in the bloodstream, thus causing respiratory acidosis.

Other choices, while they can negatively affect respiratory function, may not directly lead to respiratory acidosis in a non-ventilated patient. Chronic bronchitis involves chronic inflammation of the airways and can lead to CO2 retention, but the primary mechanism often involves changes in airflow rather than an immediate impact on ventilation as in pulmonary edema. Decreased lung compliance can adversely affect ventilation as well but is more related to conditions like restrictive lung disease rather than direct fluid accumulation affecting gas exchange. Hyperventilation, on the other hand, is characterized by an increase in breathing rate