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
pH7.357.457.29PaCO₂mmHg354530HCO₃⁻mmol/L222614respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.29, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.29PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 97 mmHg (12.9 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 70%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 97 mmHg (12.9 kPa)FiO₂ 70%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 149 mmol/L, glucose 16.1 mmol/L and urea 8.4 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 149 mmol/Lglucose 16.1 mmol/Lurea 8.4 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 8 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 8 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.15PaCO₂mmHg354518HCO₃⁻mmol/L22266appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.15, PaCO₂ 18 mmHg (2.4 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.15PaCO₂ 18 mmHg (2.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 32 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 32 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. P/F = 138.6 mmHg
  3. 3. Osm = 323 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 20 mmHg
  5. 5. appropriate compensation
  6. 6. PaCO₂ = 43.4 mmHg

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