Arterial blood gas interpretation worksheet with answers

Free printable Arterial blood gas interpretation worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
pH7.357.457.07PaCO₂mmHg354543HCO₃⁻mmol/L222612respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.07, PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.07PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.27PaCO₂mmHg354554HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.27, PaCO₂ 54 mmHg (7.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.27PaCO₂ 54 mmHg (7.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 144 mmol/L, glucose 22.9 mmol/L and urea 9.7 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 144 mmol/Lglucose 22.9 mmol/Lurea 9.7 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 131 mmol/L, glucose 16.8 mmol/L and urea 15.7 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 131 mmol/Lglucose 16.8 mmol/Lurea 15.7 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354573HCO₃⁻mmol/L222636acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L. Use the rules ‘HCO₃⁻ rises 1 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (acute) or 3.5 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (chronic)’ to classify it. Click your answer.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.13PaCO₂mmHg354547HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.13, PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.13PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. Osm = 321 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. Osm = 295 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. chronic
  6. 6. added respiratory acidosis

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