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
pH7.357.457.48PaCO₂mmHg354522HCO₃⁻mmol/L222616respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.48, PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.48PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.33PaCO₂mmHg354577HCO₃⁻mmol/L222639respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.33, PaCO₂ 77 mmHg (10.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.33PaCO₂ 77 mmHg (10.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium

A practice gas shows PaCO₂ 28 mmHg (3.7 kPa). Use the rule that in chronic respiratory alkalosis HCO₃⁻ falls by 5 mmol/L for every 10 mmHg that PaCO₂ is below 40, starting from HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L, to find the expected HCO₃⁻.

PaCO₂ 28 mmHg (3.7 kPa)baseline: 40 mmHg, 24 mmol/L
HCO₃⁻ = mmol/L
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.36PaCO₂mmHg354522HCO₃⁻mmol/L222612uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.36, PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.36PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 142, Cl⁻ 91 and HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 142 mmol/LCl⁻ 91 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
delta ratio =
6.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory alkalosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. HCO₃⁻ = 18 mmol/L
  4. 4. fully compensated
  5. 5. delta ratio = 3.143
  6. 6. PaCO₂ = 47.6 mmHg

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