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
pH7.357.457.53PaCO₂mmHg354548HCO₃⁻mmol/L222639respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.53, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.53PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.49PaCO₂mmHg354548HCO₃⁻mmol/L222635respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.49, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 35 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.49PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 35 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.25PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222618uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.25PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 139 mmol/L, glucose 21 mmol/L and urea 18.5 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 139 mmol/Lglucose 21 mmol/Lurea 18.5 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.19PaCO₂mmHg354535HCO₃⁻mmol/L222613appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.19, PaCO₂ 35 mmHg (4.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.19PaCO₂ 35 mmHg (4.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.25PaCO₂mmHg354578HCO₃⁻mmol/L222633acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 78 mmHg (10.4 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 33 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 7.25PaCO₂ 78 mmHg (10.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 33 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. metabolic alkalosis
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. Osm = 318 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. acute on chronic

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