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

Practice values: Na⁺ 134, K⁺ 4.6, Cl⁻ 101 and HCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 134 mmol/LK⁺ 4.6 mmol/LCl⁻ 101 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.55PaCO₂mmHg354547HCO₃⁻mmol/L222640respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.55, PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 40 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.55PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 40 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
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
pH7.357.457.38PaCO₂mmHg354554HCO₃⁻mmol/L222631uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.38, PaCO₂ 54 mmHg (7.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.38PaCO₂ 54 mmHg (7.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 42 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 42 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354573HCO₃⁻mmol/L222636acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L. Use the rules ‘HCO₃⁻ rises 1 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (acute) or 3.5 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (chronic)’ to classify it. Click your answer.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. AG = 13 mmol/L
  2. 2. metabolic alkalosis
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 32 mmHg
  4. 4. fully compensated
  5. 5. PaCO₂ = 50.4 mmHg
  6. 6. chronic

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