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
pH7.357.457.49PaCO₂mmHg354527HCO₃⁻mmol/L222620respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.49, PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.49PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.30PaCO₂mmHg354551HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 51 mmHg (6.8 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.30PaCO₂ 51 mmHg (6.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.56PaCO₂mmHg354521HCO₃⁻mmol/L222618uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.56, PaCO₂ 21 mmHg (2.8 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.56PaCO₂ 21 mmHg (2.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.31PaCO₂mmHg354527HCO₃⁻mmol/L222613uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.31, PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.31PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.29PaCO₂mmHg354581HCO₃⁻mmol/L222638acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.29, PaCO₂ 81 mmHg (10.8 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 38 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 7.29PaCO₂ 81 mmHg (10.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic
6.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 133, Cl⁻ 100 and HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 133 mmol/LCl⁻ 100 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
delta ratio =

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory alkalosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. partially compensated
  4. 4. partially compensated
  5. 5. chronic
  6. 6. delta ratio = 0.5714

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