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
pH7.357.457.53PaCO₂mmHg354541HCO₃⁻mmol/L222633respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.53, PaCO₂ 41 mmHg (5.5 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 33 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.53PaCO₂ 41 mmHg (5.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 33 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 134, K⁺ 4.6, Cl⁻ 98 and HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 134 mmol/LK⁺ 4.6 mmol/LCl⁻ 98 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.18PaCO₂mmHg354547HCO₃⁻mmol/L222617appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.18, PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.18PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. AG = 26 mmol/L
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 32 mmHg
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 17 mmHg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. PaCO₂ = 42 mmHg

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