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
pH7.357.457.21PaCO₂mmHg354562HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.21, PaCO₂ 62 mmHg (8.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.21PaCO₂ 62 mmHg (8.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.52PaCO₂mmHg354552HCO₃⁻mmol/L222641respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.52, PaCO₂ 52 mmHg (6.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 41 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.52PaCO₂ 52 mmHg (6.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 41 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.65PaCO₂mmHg354537HCO₃⁻mmol/L222639uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.65, PaCO₂ 37 mmHg (4.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.65PaCO₂ 37 mmHg (4.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.47PaCO₂mmHg354520HCO₃⁻mmol/L222614uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.47, PaCO₂ 20 mmHg (2.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.47PaCO₂ 20 mmHg (2.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.25PaCO₂mmHg354540HCO₃⁻mmol/L222617appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.25PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. metabolic alkalosis
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. partially compensated
  5. 5. PaCO₂ = 48.3 mmHg
  6. 6. added respiratory acidosis

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