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 71 mmHg (9.5 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 70%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 71 mmHg (9.5 kPa)FiO₂ 70%
P/F = mmHg
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.55PaCO₂mmHg354543HCO₃⁻mmol/L222636respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.55, PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.55PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.26PaCO₂mmHg354555HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg (7.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.26PaCO₂ 55 mmHg (7.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.23PaCO₂mmHg354522HCO₃⁻mmol/L22269uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.23, PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.23PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.17PaCO₂mmHg354517HCO₃⁻mmol/L22266appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.17, PaCO₂ 17 mmHg (2.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.17PaCO₂ 17 mmHg (2.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 24% oxygen shows PaO₂ 74 mmHg (9.9 kPa) and PaCO₂ 59 mmHg (7.9 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 24%PaO₂ 74 mmHg (9.9 kPa)PaCO₂ 59 mmHg (7.9 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. P/F = 101.4 mmHg
  2. 2. metabolic alkalosis
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. partially compensated
  5. 5. appropriate compensation
  6. 6. A–a gradient = 23.37 mmHg

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