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
pH7.357.457.31PaCO₂mmHg354531HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.31, PaCO₂ 31 mmHg (4.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.31PaCO₂ 31 mmHg (4.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.53PaCO₂mmHg354530HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.53, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.53PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.38PaCO₂mmHg354567HCO₃⁻mmol/L222638uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.38, PaCO₂ 67 mmHg (8.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.38PaCO₂ 67 mmHg (8.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.59PaCO₂mmHg354538HCO₃⁻mmol/L222635uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.59, PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 35 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.59PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 35 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.33PaCO₂mmHg354533HCO₃⁻mmol/L222617appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.33, PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.33PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.26PaCO₂mmHg354523HCO₃⁻mmol/L222610appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 23 mmHg (3.1 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.26PaCO₂ 23 mmHg (3.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. respiratory alkalosis
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. uncompensated
  5. 5. appropriate compensation
  6. 6. appropriate compensation

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