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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1.Easy
pH7.357.457.48PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222630respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.48PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354530HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 136 mmol/L, glucose 17.6 mmol/L and urea 17.4 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 136 mmol/Lglucose 17.6 mmol/Lurea 17.4 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 142 mmol/L, glucose 32.4 mmol/L and urea 14.1 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 142 mmol/Lglucose 32.4 mmol/Lurea 14.1 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 50% oxygen shows PaO₂ 68 mmHg (9.1 kPa) and PaCO₂ 32 mmHg (4.3 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 50%PaO₂ 68 mmHg (9.1 kPa)PaCO₂ 32 mmHg (4.3 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg
6.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 24% oxygen shows PaO₂ 83 mmHg (11.1 kPa) and PaCO₂ 50 mmHg (6.7 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 24%PaO₂ 83 mmHg (11.1 kPa)PaCO₂ 50 mmHg (6.7 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. metabolic acidosis
  3. 3. Osm = 307 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. Osm = 331 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. A–a gradient = 248.5 mmHg
  6. 6. A–a gradient = 25.62 mmHg

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