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
pH7.357.457.50PaCO₂mmHg354524HCO₃⁻mmol/L222618respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 24 mmHg (3.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.50PaCO₂ 24 mmHg (3.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.64PaCO₂mmHg354523HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.64, PaCO₂ 23 mmHg (3.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.64PaCO₂ 23 mmHg (3.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.42PaCO₂mmHg354550HCO₃⁻mmol/L222631uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.42, PaCO₂ 50 mmHg (6.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.42PaCO₂ 50 mmHg (6.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.43PaCO₂mmHg354548HCO₃⁻mmol/L222631uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.43, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.43PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 138, Cl⁻ 96 and HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 138 mmol/LCl⁻ 96 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
delta ratio =
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.16PaCO₂mmHg354585HCO₃⁻mmol/L222629acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.16, PaCO₂ 85 mmHg (11.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 29 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 7.16PaCO₂ 85 mmHg (11.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 29 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory alkalosis
  2. 2. respiratory alkalosis
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. fully compensated
  5. 5. delta ratio = 1.6
  6. 6. acute

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