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

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 72 mmHg (9.6 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 28%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 72 mmHg (9.6 kPa)FiO₂ 28%

P/F = mmHg

2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 132, K⁺ 4.5, Cl⁻ 110 and HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 132 mmol/LK⁺ 4.5 mmol/LCl⁻ 110 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L

AG = mmol/L

3.Medium

A practice gas shows PaCO₂ 56 mmHg (7.5 kPa). Use the rule that in acute respiratory acidosis HCO₃⁻ rises by 1 mmol/L for every 10 mmHg that PaCO₂ is above 40, starting from HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L, to find the expected HCO₃⁻.

PaCO₂ 56 mmHg (7.5 kPa)baseline: 40 mmHg, 24 mmol/L

HCO₃⁻ = mmol/L

4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 133 mmol/L, glucose 4.3 mmol/L and urea 20.8 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 133 mmol/Lglucose 4.3 mmol/Lurea 20.8 mmol/L

Osm = mOsm/kg

5.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 142, Cl⁻ 107, HCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L and albumin 24 g/L. Find the albumin-corrected anion gap AG_c = AG + 0.25·(40 − albumin).

Na⁺ 142 mmol/LCl⁻ 107 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/Lalbumin 24 g/L

AG_c = mmol/L

6.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 137, Cl⁻ 89 and HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 137 mmol/LCl⁻ 89 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L

delta ratio =

Answer key

1. P/F = 257.1 mmHg
2. AG = 12 mmol/L
3. HCO₃⁻ = 25.6 mmol/L
4. Osm = 291 mOsm/kg
5. AG_c = 19 mmol/L
6. delta ratio = 1.8

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