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
pH7.357.457.53PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222634respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.53, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 34 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.53PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 34 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.33PaCO₂mmHg354573HCO₃⁻mmol/L222637respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.33, PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 37 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.33PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 37 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.38PaCO₂mmHg354533HCO₃⁻mmol/L222619uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.38, PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.38PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.18PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.18, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.18PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 35 mmHg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. PaCO₂ = 42.7 mmHg

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