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
pH7.357.457.28PaCO₂mmHg354569HCO₃⁻mmol/L222631respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 69 mmHg (9.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.28PaCO₂ 69 mmHg (9.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 84 mmHg (11.2 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 35%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 84 mmHg (11.2 kPa)FiO₂ 35%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.51PaCO₂mmHg354531HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.51, PaCO₂ 31 mmHg (4.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.51PaCO₂ 31 mmHg (4.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 134, Cl⁻ 107, HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L and albumin 25 g/L. Find the albumin-corrected anion gap AGc = AG + 0.25·(40 − albumin).

Na⁺ 134 mmol/LCl⁻ 107 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/Lalbumin 25 g/L
AGc = mmol/L
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.28PaCO₂mmHg354524HCO₃⁻mmol/L222611appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 24 mmHg (3.2 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.28PaCO₂ 24 mmHg (3.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. P/F = 240 mmHg
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 26 mmHg
  5. 5. AGc = 12.75 mmol/L
  6. 6. appropriate compensation

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