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

Practice values: Na⁺ 140, K⁺ 5.2, Cl⁻ 108 and HCO₃⁻ 23 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 140 mmol/LK⁺ 5.2 mmol/LCl⁻ 108 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 23 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.21PaCO₂mmHg354578HCO₃⁻mmol/L222630respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.21, PaCO₂ 78 mmHg (10.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.21PaCO₂ 78 mmHg (10.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 140 mmol/L, glucose 23.8 mmol/L and urea 18.3 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 140 mmol/Lglucose 23.8 mmol/Lurea 18.3 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 149 mmol/L, glucose 22 mmol/L and urea 10.8 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 149 mmol/Lglucose 22 mmol/Lurea 10.8 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
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

Practice values: Na⁺ 141, Cl⁻ 107, HCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L and albumin 23 g/L. Find the albumin-corrected anion gap AGc = AG + 0.25·(40 − albumin).

Na⁺ 141 mmol/LCl⁻ 107 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/Lalbumin 23 g/L
AGc = mmol/L

Answer key

  1. 1. AG = 9 mmol/L
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. Osm = 322 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. Osm = 331 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. PaCO₂ = 50.4 mmHg
  6. 6. AGc = 18.25 mmol/L

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