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
pH7.357.457.26PaCO₂mmHg354565HCO₃⁻mmol/L222628respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 65 mmHg (8.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 28 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.26PaCO₂ 65 mmHg (8.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 28 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.61PaCO₂mmHg354525HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.61, PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.61PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.20PaCO₂mmHg354564HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 64 mmHg (8.5 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.20PaCO₂ 64 mmHg (8.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.12PaCO₂mmHg354576HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.12, PaCO₂ 76 mmHg (10.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.12PaCO₂ 76 mmHg (10.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 24% oxygen shows PaO₂ 79 mmHg (10.5 kPa) and PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 24%PaO₂ 79 mmHg (10.5 kPa)PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.17PaCO₂mmHg354580HCO₃⁻mmol/L222628acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.17, PaCO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 28 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 7.17PaCO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 28 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. respiratory alkalosis
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. uncompensated
  5. 5. A–a gradient = 44.62 mmHg
  6. 6. acute

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